Leave gaming to the real mai-baap

As across the world, gaming is huge business - and pleasure - in India. The country has around 57 mn active gamers, the second-largest globally after China. Children, youngsters and women form a significant chunk of this vast user base. Its popularity has been enabled by increased broadband penetration, widespread smartphone adoption, improved internet connectivity, a vast population of young people, increased awareness and creation of local gaming content.

But this booming sector may be facing headwinds from the proverbial nanny state. According to an ET report, GoI is mulling over imposing time and spending limits on online gamers to tackle 'gaming addiction' among children and young adults.

In 2023, MeitY enacted IT rules that mandate the inclusion of educationists, mental health experts and child rights advocates to protect children from the potential harms of online gaming. The concern is valid, and genuine.


But the state has no business in literally playing mai-baap regarding how parents should bring up their children. This includes the state putting the equivalent of a 'child lock' for gaming at homes. We aren't China.

Instead of planning to behave like a nanny state, GoI, at best, could make parents and school administrators more aware of the downsides of 'too much' screentime. Cracking down on candy-loving kids and youngsters is hardly the way to tackle the problem of sugar-rushers.

In any case, money for real-money gamers comes from parents, not from the child's pocket. Parents can make informed choices. The state should prioritise enforcing the law - including against law-breaking minors - rather than interfering with families who'd rather have genuine minimum government, maximum governance, not lessons in discipline and habits.