Thu, 25 Sep 2025

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 China launches campaign to keep killjoys off the internet

Pessimistic social media posts may now be targets of a fresh crackdown by the Chinese government.

* China's Cyberspace Administration launches a two-month campaign to curb negative and pessimistic sentiments on social media
* Influencers such as Hu Chenfeng have had their accounts scrubbed or restricted for posting content deemed "excessively negative" or promoting social divisions
* Social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou, and Weibo are being penalized for failing to rein in "negative" content
* Experts say the campaign is an attempt to address growing pessimism among Chinese youth, but may not be effective in addressing underlying issues such as economic slowdown and high unemployment
* The move has raised concerns about censorship and the impact on online freedom of expression in China
* Influencers who have been targeted are being forced to "reflect" on their content, with some saying they will change their tone to avoid further penalties.
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