China’s cyberspace administration has initiated a two-month campaign aimed at curbing online negativity. The initiative seeks to “rectify negative emotions” and foster a more positive online environment by targeting social media posts that exhibit excessive pessimism, such as those questioning the value of studying or hard work.
This crackdown reflects Beijing’s concern over rising disillusionment among China’s youth, fueled by economic challenges like a property crisis, high youth unemployment, and intense competition. Experts note that young people are increasingly questioning their future prospects, anticipating a potentially tougher economic reality than their parents experienced.
In response to this growing sentiment, authorities have been sanctioning influencers and social media platforms. Recently, content creator Hu Chenfeng faced a ban of his social media accounts, widely believed to be due to comments classifying things as “Apple” or “Android,” with the latter used to denote inferiority. While seemingly a joke, it highlighted social divisions that the Communist Party prefers to downplay.
Censorship is a long-standing feature of the Chinese internet, with political criticism and controversial topics swiftly removed. However, this current campaign against pessimism broadens the scope, addressing a wider range of online behaviors that might contribute to a negative atmosphere. Even social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou, and Weibo are facing penalties for failing to control content deemed “trivial” or overly focused on celebrity updates.
While the government aims for a “clear and healthy cyberspace,” critics argue that suppressing expressions of pessimism, even if they stem from genuine anxieties, could exacerbate mental health issues among the populace. The underlying economic pressures that fuel this pessimism, including job market competitiveness and a declining birth rate, remain significant challenges that top-down ideological campaigns may struggle to address effectively.