China warns of blind box ‘addiction’ among country’s youth
Communist Party newspaper calls for controls on ‘out-of-control’ consumption of roulette-style items by minors in high-profile report
The official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party has cautioned against an “addiction” to blind card packs and blind boxes among the country's youths as the summer holiday approaches.
The items, with their allure of “unknown surprises,” have become highly sought-after by young consumers, but hide “commercial traps” that induce impulsive spending, the article said.
Because the exact product within a given blind box or card pack is not known until it is bought and opened, their purchase carries an element of gambling. This is augmented by the varied designs and rarity levels used by merchants to attract consumers, fuelling their desire to collect entire sets.
In recent years, blind card packs have gained popularity among children and teenagers for their similarly unpredictable rewards, People’s Daily said.
“Irrational consumption is common among children and teenagers, with some spending hundreds or even thousands of yuan in a single transaction to chase rare cards,” the authors concluded after interviewing multiple teenagers.