On July 3, Tencent Games launched the "2026 Summer Protection Action Plan for Minors," which not only limits the weekly gaming time of minors according to the national administration of press and publication's regulations on preventing addiction, but also introduced an additional "AI Dual-Engine Anti-Addiction" model. This new approach combines AI technology to strengthen measures both inside and outside games, building a solid firewall for healthy gaming among minors.
Since the new anti-addiction regulations were implemented in 2021, the gaming industry has established a minor protection system mainly based on "gaming time limits and spending limits." However, the complexity of family scenarios has significantly reduced the effectiveness of the regulatory measures. Issues such as "account misuse" and "facial recognition bypassing" remain common challenges in this area. The upgrade of the "AI Dual-Engine Anti-Addiction" model by Tencent Games is a crucial measure addressing these issues.
Inside the game, combatting account misuse and facial recognition bypassing.
The newly launched "AI Patrol" feature enhances the intensity of anti-addiction supervision. The "AI Guardian" embedded within the game dynamically classifies risk levels based on players' real-time behavior. In addition to traditional "face recognition" verification, it adds AI multi-modal validation such as voiceprint feature detection, age identification, and detection of bypass characteristics, achieving full-chain intervention from early warning to graded verification, significantly increasing the difficulty of "misuse" and "bypass" behaviors.
Outside the game, helping parents manage more effectively.
Tencent's Growth Guardian platform was upgraded to an AI conversation version, integrating Tencent HuanYuan and DeepSeek large models. It transforms complex management operations into natural language interaction, allowing parents to complete the entire management process through conversation.
Whether it's checking your child's game account, analyzing accounts under your name, setting no-play periods, or issuing face recognition, the AI will intelligently identify your intention, guide you step by step through the operation, and proactively provide actionable solutions when problems are detected. Previously, control needs that were abandoned due to "difficulty in operation" now have a lower barrier solution.
In fact, Tencent Games' exploration of AI has already covered multiple scenarios.
The implementation of the "AI Dual-Engine Anti-Addiction" is another expansion of AI technology application into the field of minor protection, following previous efforts in AI-assisted game development and enhancing player experience.
However, for the protection of minors, technology is merely a tool. In recent years, Tencent Games has continuously advanced its minor protection practices, not just focusing on "prevention" and "management," but adhering to the concept of "combining prevention with guidance." While improving the anti-addiction system, it also provides teenagers with more opportunities for learning, sports, and interests beyond games through projects like Future Classroom, Future Music Workshop, and the fun sports app "Eagle Companion Sports."
Summer is a peak period for minors to access games and also a time of intense family companionship. Only through continuous improvement of technical governance by enterprises and active fulfillment of parental responsibilities can we truly form a synergy in protecting minors and jointly safeguard the healthy growth of young people.
