Intervention therapies forbidden in treating web addiction minors: China's Health Ministry

China's Health Ministry is banning the use of physical punishment and damaging surgery in treating Internet-addicted youths. The bans are listed in a guide issued by the ministry to help minors to use the Internet properly.

The guide forbids any intervention therapies to break Internet dependency in minors. It says the current definition of Internet addiction is not clear, and should not be used to define damage to human health and social functions. Whether or not web addicts suffer such damage should be judged by professional mental medical facilities.