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Chinese Internet Addicts Attempt 'Prison Break' From Rehab

by Amar Toor on June 9, 2010 at 08:00 AM

chain link fenceThe Chinese version of the Internet may be watered down and heavily censored, but, for many of that nation's youth, it holds the same kind of allure that keeps the rest of us glued to our laptops all day. For some, though, allure soon turns into outright addiction, and, in response, many Chinese parents are now sending their kids to digital "rehab" clinics to cure them. The effectiveness of these clinics is arguable, and the methods employed there are controversial. But, for one group of inmates at a clinic in China's eastern Jiangsu province, an Internet-free existence was so unbearable that they went so far as to orchestrate an escape.

As the Telegraph reports, the group of 14 young Web junkies, ranging in age from 15 to 22, ganged up on their overseer, tied him to a bed, and then made a break for freedom. Unfortunately, though, they were caught by police after failing to scrounge up enough yuan to pay for a taxi. Sadly enough, they weren't even able to scrape up any sympathy from their parents, many of whom supported the boot camp.

Based on what we've heard of the facility, we can't really blame the kids for doing their best to Shawshank their way out of there. Addicts admitted to the center have to go through a daily, Mr. Miyagi-like regimen that includes two hours of exercise, as well as mandatory classes on Chinese calligraphy and philosophy. They have to be in bed by 9:30 every night, and, of course, they can't go online. The clinics, however, have recently come under heavy scrutiny, after one 15-year-old patient was reportedly beaten to death by two instructors. And, according to the Global Times, one facility has even used shock therapy on its inmates.

There's no indication that the escapees at this particular camp in Huai'an were receiving such extreme treatment, but one official, perhaps anticipating such criticism, stood by the clinic's tough love, saying, "We need to teach them some discipline and help them to establish a regular lifestyle."

We don't doubt that Internet addiction is a serious problem for some kids and adults, and, much like any other addiction or dependence, sometimes merits treatment. But using force, intimidation or electricity to scare it out of addicts seems a lot like something experts would recommend in 1910 -- not 2010. [From: The Telegraph and Geekosystem]

Tags: addiction, china, Internet, InternetAddiction, InternetAddictionTreatmentCenter, rehab, teens, top, youth

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