虎嗅APP·2025-02-28 09:42Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the controversial nature of the video game industry from an ESG perspective, highlighting the psychological dependency it creates among players, particularly minors, and the need for companies like NetEase to take social responsibility seriously [3][6][10]. Group 1: Company Overview - NetEase is primarily a video game company, with net revenue of 105.3 billion yuan (approximately 14.4 billion USD) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, of which 83.6 billion yuan (about 11.5 billion USD) comes from games and related services, accounting for around 80% of total revenue [1]. - The company has expanded its gaming ecosystem and operates several popular mobile and PC games both in China and globally [1]. Group 2: Controversial Nature of Video Games - Video games are considered a controversial industry due to their addictive nature, similar to tobacco, alcohol, and gambling, which can lead to "Gaming Disorder" recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) [3][4]. - WHO outlines three diagnostic criteria for gaming disorder, including inability to control gaming behavior, prioritizing gaming over other interests, and continuation of gaming despite negative consequences [3]. Group 3: Regulatory Environment - Various countries have implemented restrictions on video game advertising, particularly aimed at protecting minors, such as mandatory health warnings in South Korea and prohibitions on misleading advertising in France [4][5]. - In the U.S., there are strict regulations on collecting personal information from users under 13, requiring parental consent for advertising [5]. Group 4: NetEase's ESG Reporting - NetEase's 2023 ESG report lacks acknowledgment of the negative impacts of gaming addiction, failing to mention "gaming addiction" at all, which raises questions about the report's reliability and completeness [10][11]. - The report does include a section on "Minor Protection," detailing initiatives like the "Minor Protection Center" and "AI Minor Protection System," but lacks data on the effectiveness of these measures [13][14]. Group 5: Social Responsibility - The article argues that NetEase should take more proactive steps in promoting responsible gaming and addressing addiction issues, similar to how other industries have taken responsibility for their products [14].