Chinese crack down on Internet “addicts”

Alarmed by a survey that found that nearly 14 percent of teens in China are vulnerable to becoming addicted to the Internet, the Chinese government has launched a nationwide campaign to stamp out what the Communist Youth League calls “a grave social problem.” Internet addiction has been blamed in the state–run media for a murder over virtual property earned in an online game, for a string of suicides, and for the failure of youths in their studies. Those who say heavy Internet use should be defined as a mental disorder say the addiction can be crippling, leading people to neglect work, school, and social lives. Read about the controversy at washingtonpost.com.