From Screen-Time Control to Digital Resilience: A Harm-Reduction Framework for Adolescent Internet Gaming Disorder in China.

Abstract

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) among adolescents is a mental health issue associated with multiple levels of influence, including individual development, game design, self-regulation, and the broader offline environment. Drawing on a narrative synthesis of relevant psychological evidence, together with conceptual analysis and normative policy analysis, this paper examines the extent to which China's existing anti-addiction measures correspond to the risk structure of IGD. Existing evidence indicates that a range of individual, environmental, and game-design factors are associated with problematic gaming or IGD. Some direct policy evaluations suggest that time limits can reduce gaming participation or duration; however, there is still insufficient direct evidence to determine whether such reductions in exposure consistently translate into lower IGD risk. On this basis, the paper proposes a conceptual governance framework guided by digital resilience and digital rights. While retaining necessary time limits, the framework places greater emphasis on harm-reduction design and connects platform responsibility with support from families, schools, and professionals. The aim is to broaden the governance of gaming addiction prevention beyond time control alone to encompass the reduction of environmental risks and the development of adolescents' adaptive capacities.