Chinese Regulator Launches Two-Month Campaign to Clean Up Social Media Content

China’s digital landscape is undergoing another major shakeup. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s top internet regulator, has launched a two-month crackdown on social media content, explicitly targeting what it calls “malicious incitement of conflict” and “negative outlooks on life.”

The campaign comes after the CAC recently penalized several of China’s most popular platforms, including the micro-blogging site Weibo, the short-video app Kuaishou, and the Instagram-like Xiaohongshu. The regulator accused these companies of neglecting their content management duties and allowing “undesirable” content, particularly celebrity gossip, to dominate trending topics.

In a statement, the CAC outlined its mission to create a “more civilized and rational online environment.” However, the scope of the campaign is broad, focusing on online behaviors that Beijing deems harmful. This includes the spreading of “rumors” about the economy and social welfare, as well as posts that “maliciously interpret social phenomena” or “unilaterally exaggerate negative individual cases.”

The crackdown appears to be a direct response to a rise in what authorities see as a pessimistic cultural trend among young Chinese, encapsulated by phrases like “lying flat” (bailing on the rat race) and “letting it rot.” By targeting content that promotes these sentiments, the government is signaling its intention to shape online discourse to align with state-approved narratives of progress and positivity.

This latest move reinforces Beijing’s long-standing policy of strict internet control. While the government justifies its actions as necessary for social stability and a healthier online ecosystem, the initiative highlights the ongoing tension between a tightly controlled digital sphere and the public’s desire for freedom of expression.