China weans teens off the Interweb

CHINA'S TREATMENT PROGRAMME for kids addicted to the Interweb enters a new phase this month as the snappily-named "e Road Sunshine-Shanghai Teenager Network Addiction Comprehensive Treatment and Training Camp" begins.

The 10-day event, which starts on August 17th sees 40 "Internet addicted young people" undergoing psychological evaluation as shrinks try to get their heads around what they view as the problem of internet addiction.

And the shrinks don't just want to wean the teens off web, they want to tackle to problem of web addiction at its root.

So far they have a three-tier approach.

According to chinatechnews.com, patients suffering low-level addictions can call a special phone number for a cure.

"Medium level" addicts are advised to contact their local "Teenager Affairs Office" for the name of a therapist.

The most seriously afflicted will be sent to a special hospital for a "systematic therapy solution".

INQUIRER readers will probably be banged up. Naturally, there's no cure for anyone dim emough to play World of Warcraft. Anyone with a page on Facebook will have to sit down and read the little red book until the rabbit in the moon comes out to play. µ