Racing wildly on the internet

Author: Zhang Chunliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: The subtitle of the book "Running Wild on the Internet" – "The Death of a Teenager and a Lawsuit Against an Industry" – attracts attention. The book analyzes the cause of death of the internet-addicted teenager Zhang Xiaoyi, records the author Zhang Chunliang's initiative to launch an unprecedented public interest lawsuit against the entire online gaming industry. The book elaborates on his views and the efforts he has made. On December 27, 2004, 13-year-old Zhang Xiaoyi, after spending 36 hours in an internet cafe, stood on the rooftop of a 24-story building by the Haihe River in Tianjin, arms extended, legs crossed in a flying pose, and leaped toward the southeast sea, chasing after the heroes in the game: Uther, Tranduil, the Revenant, and the Watcher. A budding young life, a once excellent student, thus ended. The medical certificate from the Department of Medical Addiction at Beijing General Hospital of the Beijing Military Region stated that Zhang Xiaoyi had suffered from severe "internet addiction syndrome" due to excessive indulgence in unhealthy online games. This teenager left behind an 8,000-word online game diary titled "The Legend of the Watcher." The book "Running Wild on the Internet" includes the full diary as a warning to the world: the harm of online games to minors has become very real and specific. Zhang Xiaoyi's death also shocked the author of the book, Zhang Chunliang, who is the head of the Internet Addiction Prevention and Treatment Research Center of the China Economic Times. He is dedicated to investigating and researching the current status, development, and impact of China's online gaming industry. He founded the Public Aid Network for Internet Addiction and organized a volunteer team for internet addiction public aid, which has now grown to nearly 2,000 volunteers. Zhang Chunliang pointed out: Zhang Xiaoyi was not an accidental victim of online games; some online game companies' sales models are designed to "addict." "This is not just an individual case; there are too many similar cases. I have collected more than 700 similar cases myself. To fight this public interest lawsuit for the fate and future of 2.6 million internet-addicted teenagers is imperative. I will do my utmost to win this lawsuit." Zhang Chunliang showed a lawsuit from the victims' parents, Zhang Jianhua and his wife, expressing his original intention and determination to fight this public interest lawsuit. According to data released by the General Administration of Press and Publication, China's internet users have reached 103 million, and 10% of middle school students have a tendency toward internet addiction syndrome. Another survey report shows that there are 35 million online gaming internet users in China, accounting for 34% of all internet users. Among these online gaming internet users, 80% are teenagers, and 2.6 million are already internet-addicted.