Chinese youth learning about sex through video games

The China Youth Internet Association and Communication University of China have released findings indicating that more than half of young people ages 13-18 are learning about sex from video games and related material.

Over 40% of young Chinese Internet users have encountered sexually suggestive or explicit content through message boards or websites that use sex as part of promotion. However, the study also shows that China's ban on "vulgar marketing in online games" is ineffective — according to the report, 71.6 percent of all people surveyed said that ongoing contact with visual sexual advertising had little to no effect on them.

Of those surveyed, 38.7 percent said they've come across sexually charged material in game advertisements or promos. In addition, 34 percent of young Chinese males admitted they actively seek out adult content, compared with 9.1 percent of female youth.

Rather than condemn video games, the researchers behind the study recommended that the government improve sexual education courses to better educate young people.

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[Kotaku]