Mystery of teenager鈥檚 death at Internet addiction center
Print Edition
A TEENAGER has died after less than 48 hours at a center that treats Internet addicts, shining a light on the controversial facilities that seek to unlatch people from their screens.
The first country to declare Internet addiction a clinical disorder, China is estimated to be home to millions of, primarily, young men who spend hours online.
The parents of 18-year-old Li Ao had tried everything they could think of to cure his addiction 鈥 showing him the ropes of the family business, encouraging him to join the military and taking him on trips around the country.
But after none of these methods produced results, they decided to pay 22,800 yuan (US$3,414) for 180 days of 鈥渃losed, isolated special education鈥 at the rehab center.
The school had promised to use a combination of psychological treatment methods and military training, Li鈥檚 parents told CCTV.
While the cause of Li鈥檚 death remains unknown, his father Li Tao and mother Liu Dongmei told the TV station that the school called them just a day and a half after they had dropped off their son to say he was in the emergency room.
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Li had already been moved to the morgue, where his parents found his body covered with scars.
鈥淭he teachers at the center told us that their teaching style was very nurturing. They said they never beat kids or used corporal punishment,鈥 Liu told CCTV.
鈥淏ut when I saw my son鈥檚 body there were bruises all over his arms and legs,鈥 she said.
CCTV said the school, near the provincial capital of Hefei, was unlicensed and had been ordered to close several times by the local government.
鈥淣ow I just want the authorities to investigate and expose the truth of my son鈥檚 death,鈥 said Li.
Police have taken the school鈥檚 management and four instructors into custody, while the 20 students who remained at the center have all been picked up by their parents.
An investigation is continuing, CCTV reported.
China introduced draft legislation in February that bans the use of electroshock therapy and beatings at Internet addiction treatment centers.
The law would also prevent minors from playing online games between midnight and 8am.
In a bid to curb gaming marathons on its popular 鈥淜ing of Glory鈥 mobile online multiplayer battle game, Internet giant Tencent last month began restricting daily playing times for children.
The smartphone smash hit had even infected the Chinese military, with the official People鈥檚 Liberation Army newspaper warning that soldiers鈥 attachment to 鈥淜ing of Glory鈥 posed a 鈥渟ecurity risk that can鈥檛 be overlooked.鈥
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