By outdoor-nature-child.com On October 21, a new initiative aimed at promoting healthy consumption among teenagers regarding trading card blind boxes was launched in Beijing.
The initiative, titled “Empowering Through Card Games, Navigating with Rationality,” was introduced in response to the recent popularity of card blind boxes among young people. Engaging in activities such as buying, unpacking, and collecting cards has become a new social trend. However, with the emergence of this market, some irrational behaviors have surfaced in the secondary card market and streaming sessions. To encourage responsible consumption, standardize market practices, and create a collaborative social effort, Xinhua News Agency partnered with Kayo Animation to host the “2024 Youth Cultural Consumption and Growth” seminar. Participants at the event discussed five key aspects: promoting positive values, eliminating speculative behavior, reinforcing platform responsibility, effectively guiding parental involvement, and fostering a healthy atmosphere.
Regarding the importance of effective parental guidance, Shuchao Huai, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Education Sciences, and Xiong Pingqi, president of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, emphasized that games and toys play a crucial role in children’s growth. They pointed out that teenagers have legitimate needs for games and social interaction, which society must recognize. The rising popularity of trading cards reflects a lack of engaging recreational activities for students, highlighting the need for understanding and guidance from adults. Xiong argued that the fundamental issue lies in cultivating a healthy relationship with money and consumption among children through daily interactions and encouraging participation in financial planning.
Shuchao Huai also shared insights from the perspective that children should be involved in family management from a young age. He remarked that many parents focus solely on academic performance without considering financial literacy education. “To nurture well-rounded children, ample time and experience in this area are essential. When families and society provide reasonable guidance, popular items like trading cards can positively influence children’s consumer habits,” he suggested.
Lu Dazhen, vice president of Kayo Animation, described trading cards as not only trendy consumer products but also cultural vessels that carry content and values. As a leading company in the industry, Kayo Animation recognizes its responsibility to promote healthy consumption. He noted that teenagers are not only potential future consumers but should also benefit from a healthy consumption environment today. Kayo commits to maintaining a focus on quality content while urging all stakeholders in the industry to uphold their responsibilities and collaborate in establishing an environment conducive to rational consumption for minors.
During a roundtable discussion, Qin Chan, deputy director of the Cultural Relics Department at the National Sports General Administration, shared a collaborative initiative with Kayo Animation to launch cards featuring ancient Chinese sports artifacts at the “Dragon Horse Spirit – Chinese Sports Culture Exhibition” in Paris. She expressed that during the Olympics, both domestic and international audiences could appreciate the allure of traditional Chinese sports culture and the artistry of card-making, showcasing the unique role cards play in cultural exchange.
In discussions on regulation and oversight, Chen Yunpeng, a researcher, and Dong Xiaojun, director of the Innovation Integration Department at China Youth Daily, explored the foundational role of standards in emerging industries and the shared responsibility of parents and schools in nurturing a healthy consumption environment for youth.
Trading cards are not only beloved by today’s youth; they also evoke shared memories across different age groups. In recent years, trading cards have fulfilled entertainment and social interaction needs while serving as vital vehicles for cultural and artistic expression. Moving forward, with the collaboration of companies like Kayo Animation, families, educational institutions, and society at large, the trading card market is expected to evolve in an orderly manner. Following the announcement of the initiative, many media representatives present at the seminar expressed optimism, believing that the five-point advocacy would help young people establish correct values and cultural confidence while steering clear of excessive consumption. They also hope trading cards will serve as a link to pass on traditional culture and knowledge to younger generations through interactive and entertaining means.
The “Empowering Through Card Games, Navigating with Rationality” initiative outlines the following key points for promoting healthy consumption among teenagers:
1. **Advocate Positive Values**: Encourage card companies to create high-quality cultural products that resonate with youth, acting as a spiritual link to correct values.
2. **Eliminate Speculative Behavior**: Standardize secondary market operations and discourage price manipulation so that trading cards return to their intrinsic values of collection, entertainment, socializing, and competition.
3. **Reinforce Platform Responsibility**: Online platforms and retail outlets must take on their responsibilities seriously by enhancing technical measures and improving oversight processes to protect minors.
4. **Effectively Guide Parental Involvement**: Schools and parents should provide scientific guidance on children’s interests, encourage diverse social interactions, and cultivate a healthy relationship with money and consumption from an early age.
5. **Foster a Healthy Atmosphere**: All sectors of society should collaborate to monitor changes in new consumption trends, promote rational discourse, and cultivate a diverse social culture and positive consumption attitudes.