1 . China has set new rules limiting the amount of time children can play online games. The rules limit children to just three hours of online game playing a week. That is one hour between 8 p. m. and 9 p. m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks.

Li Zhanguo has two children aged 4 and 8. Even though they do not have smartphones, they enjoy playing online games. Like many other parents. Li is happy with new government rules. But experts say it is unclear if such policies can help prevent addiction to online games. Children might just get addicted to social media instead. In the end, experts say, parents should be the ones to set limits and support good practice.

There has been a growing concern in China about gaming addiction among children. Government reports in 2018 found that about one in ten Chinese children were addicted to the Internet. The new rules are part of an effort to prevent young people from spending too much time on unhealthy entertainment. That includes what officials call the “irrational fan culture”

Under the new rules, the responsibility for making sure children play only three hours a day as largely on Chinese gaming companies like Net Ease and Ten cent. Companies have set up real-name registration systems to prevent young users from going past game time limits. They have used facial recognition technology to check their identities. And they have also set up a program that permits people to report what is against the law. It is unclear what punishments gaming companies may face if they do not carry out the policies. And even if such policies are performed, it is also unclear whether they can prevent online addiction.

A specialist treating Internet addiction expects about 20 percent of children will find ways to break the rules by borrowing accounts of their older relatives and find a way around facial recognition. In his opinion, short-video alps such as Douyin and Kuaishou are also very popular in China. They are not under the same restrictions as games.

5 . Some pickles (榨菜) can sometimes make a meal taste better. Recently, a new type of pickle is being discussed: “digital pickles”. In fact, they are the attractive videos people watch while eating.

The topic received more than 16 million clicks online and about 100, 000 people joined in the discussion. Instead of being with friends and family during a meal, many young people in China are kept company by TV shows or short videos. Many believe that their food tastes better with the “digital pickles”.

Can this habit affect your diet? According to a research paper, you may eat more unconsciously (无意识地). The international research team asked 62 volunteers to follow different eating habits on four different days. Those included eating while looking at the mobile phone, reading magazines and doing nothing else. After analyzing (分析) their diets, the team discovered that eating with a distraction (使人分心的事物) resulted in taking in more calories by about 15 percent.

To explore the reason, the team also invited two groups of people: one group ate while listening to sounds about another person eating and the other listened to those that helped them imagine themselves eating. The results showed that the second group ate less since they were more focused on their meals. When eating with the “digital pickles”, our attention can be attracted, which leads to eating more than expected.

This works not only for eating meals but other demanding tasks as well. A research project led by the University of Sussex, UK, pointed out that activities which require lots of attention cheat many into overeating. The team invited 120 volunteers to do different tasks while providing them with drinks and snacks. “Our study suggests that if you’re eating or drinking while your attention is attracted by a highly engaging task, you’re less likely to tell how full you feel, “one author explained.

6 . When it comes to team assembly (团队组建), people who are both trustworthy and competent are the most sought after. However, those who are friendly and trustworthy are more likely to be selected than those who are known for just their skill competence and personal reputation, according to a new research from Binghamton University.

“We assume that people are selected for important tasks due to their knowledge, skills and abilities. However, this research suggests that people may often get picked because team members feel comfortable with them,” said Cynthia Maupin, assistant professor of organizational behavior and leadership in Binghamton University’s School of Management. “People may be willing to sacrifice a bit in terms of performance in order to have a really positive team experience.”

Maupin and her colleagues focused on a group of MBA students to conduct their study. Students were randomly assigned to different teams to carry out class projects and assignments. Toward the end of the semester, students were asked to form their own teams. and evaluate why they selected each member of their group.

“To find out how students signaled to others that they might be someone who would be good to team up with in the future, we studied their use of either challenging or supportive voice,” Maupin said.

·Challenging voice: Communicating in a way that challenges the present situation and is focused on new ideas and efficiency.

·Supportive voice: Communicating in a way that strengthens social ties and trust, and builds friendly unity of a team.

The researchers found that students who exhibited both voices were the most in-demand people when it came to assembling teams. However, students who only used supportive voice to exhibit their friendliness and trustworthiness were more sought after than those who only signaled their competence through the use of challenging voice.

Maupin said the findings have major implications(影响) for the workplace. “People should realize the way they speak up can have a strong effect on informal teaming up at a later point and that supportive voice helps establish harmonious relationships and a sense of trust amongst individuals.”

7 . It was a comfortable sunny Sunday. I was going to meet an old university friend I hadn’t seen for years, and was really excited.

My train was running a little late, but that was no big problem—I could text him to say I would be delayed. He would understand. But … where was my mobile phone? I had that familiar sinking feeling. Yes, I’d left it at home.

No mobile phone. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling anxious, on edge and worried when I don’t have my phone with me. In fact, I know I’m not alone: two－thirds of us experience “nomophobia (无手机恐惧症)”， the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.

That’s according to a study from 2012 which surveyed 1，000 people in the UK about their relationship with mobile phones.

It says we check our mobile phones 34 times a day, and that 18—24－year－olds, especially girls, are the most likely to suffer fear of being without their mobiles: 77% of them say they are unable to be apart from their phones for more than a few minutes.

Do you have nomophobia?

● You never turn your phone off.

● You frequently check for texts, missed calls and emails.

● You always take your phone to the bathroom with you.

● You never let the battery run out.

It’s funny to think that around 20 years ago the only people with mobile phones would be businessmen carrying their large, plastic “bricks”. Of course, these days, mobile phones are everywhere. A UN study from this year said there would be more mobile phones than people across the world by the end of 2020.

And when there are more phones than people in the world, maybe it’s time to ask who really is in charge? Are you in control of your phone, or does your phone control you?

So, what happened with my university friend? When I arrived a few minutes late he just laughed and said: “You haven’t changed at all—still always late!” And we had a great afternoon catching up, full of jokes and stories, with no desire to check my phone.

Not having it with me felt strangely free. Maybe I’ll leave it at home on purpose next time.

9 . In recent years, traditional Chinese culture and art has gained a foothold on short video platforms and attracted a large number of young followers thanks to the explosive growth of the short video industry. Relaxing, emotional and fragmented, these video contents perfectly match the demands of the users. With the application of new technologies such as social communication and immersive experiencing, short video platforms are seeing more users, becoming a shining spot of new Internet media.

Recently, Huangmei Opera Female Consort Prince became a hit on short video platforms as a lot of young users covered the aria (咏叹调) in their own way and showed great artistic talents. The interactive platforms are expanding the charm of the traditional opera among young people.

Peking Opera was also well-received on short video platforms thanks to a series of AR effects. Users love to film clips with a set of virtual facial makeup, headwear and costumes. Statistics indicate that these effects were applied by more than 18 million users, most of whom were young people.

In addition to Chinese operas, intangible cultural heritage items, such as embroidery, paper-cutting, printing and dyeing, shadow play works, oiled paper umbrella making, and bamboo weaving are also actively promoted on short video platforms. In a word, short video platforms are becoming an important channel to display China’s intangible cultural heritage.

Short video platforms, offering a fun, popular and easy way to explore the traditional art forms, are receiving a lot of positive feedbacks from China’s young generations. The seconds, or minutes long videos have produced remarkable achievements in promoting traditional Chinese culture.

10 . Little boys don’t like reading any more and even little girls don’t enjoy it as much as they once did. This is the accepted wisdom inside the book industry —and in many British families, too. Parents and booksellers tend to blame the growing appeal of online entertainment and handheld games, but research from the US is challenging these assumptions.

Michael Norris, an American publishing expert, will release findings in the monthly Book Publishing Report which show that, despite the best intentions, it is well-meaning mothers and fathers who often stop their sons and daughters from picking up the reading habit.

“Parents have too much of a role in deciding which books their children are going to read,” said Norris. “It is turning children off.”

The results of a number of surveys Norris has carried out with hundreds of American book-sellers over the past year have provided the basis for a series of tips for parents designed to help children find enjoyment in books.

One of his tips is to make sure children talk directly to a librarian or a bookseller, while parents stand well back. Parents should allow children to choose their own reading material. “Even if a mother or father is just standing with the child when the bookseller asks them what they like to read, we have found that the child will give an answer they think their parent wants to hear. It will not be the same answer they would give alone,” said Norris.

Norris’s another tip for parents is that they do not attempt to limit books to one age range. ”What we have found is that parents should not worry whether a title looks too young or too old for a child. If a book has caught their attention, then let them take it.“ Children, added Norris, often enjoy reading books that are easy for them to understand. “My father made me read The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy when I was much too young and I have never read another Clancy since,” said Norris.