China launches campaign against online hostility and pessimism

China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) on Monday announced a two-month nationwide campaign to crack down on online content that fuels hostility, spreads rumours, or promotes pessimism about the economy and society.

Key measures

• Targeted content includes:

  • Posts inciting fan group clashes.

  • Tutorials on doxxing techniques.

  • Rumours and conspiracy theories about the economy.

  • Narratives exaggerating isolated negative incidents.

  • Pessimistic slogans such as “hard work is useless” or “studying is useless”.

• The CAC said it would conduct comprehensive inspections of trending topics, recommendation systems, and comment sections on major platforms.

Platforms under scrutiny

Recent disciplinary measures have already been taken against:

• Kuaishou (short-video app)

• Weibo (microblogging platform)

• Xiaohongshu/RedNote (Instagram-like platform)

Broader context

• China’s economy has been under pressure in 2025, with sluggish growth and persistent youth unemployment fueling online discontent.

• Authorities argue that pessimistic narratives and heated online debates could spill into real-world instability.

• Unlike Western moderation practices, China’s online speech controls are more extensive, aimed at shaping public sentiment in line with state priorities.

Recent example

The campaign follows the case of actor Yu Menglong, 37, who died after falling from a building. Authorities said three individuals fabricated rumours and fake videos about his death, prompting police to take “compulsory measures” against them for disrupting public order.

The CAC said the new campaign is designed to “clean up online spaces” and promote a healthier information environment aligned with socialist values.