China launches campaign to keep killjoys off the internet

The Chinese government aims at the passion that has become very common on the Internet in the country – despair.

This week, the Chinese Electronic Space Administration launched a two -month campaign to reduce social media posts “excessively in negative and pessimistic feelings.” The goal, according to the authorities, is to “correct negative feelings” and “create a more civilized and rational environment online.”

In Crosshairs are novels such as “Non -Fi -TV” and “hard work is not glorified”, as well as stories that enhance “global commitment”.

China is struggling with an economic slowdown in the wake of the property crisis, high unemployment for youth and Hanafi competition for admission to colleges and jobs – all of which led to a feeling of disappointment between its younger generation.

“They have dangerous questions about future prospects for their lives” and “they must face the fact that their livelihoods will be worse than their parents.”

Beijing was concerned about bubble frustration in a wave of penalties that strike the influencers in the country and social media platforms.

Last week, the well -known content creator, Shending, torn his social media accounts from all publications. Nobody knows the reason because Chinese officials did not provide any explanation. But it is widely believed that this was a response to his recent viral suspension, and the classification of people and elements either “Apple” or “Android” – with the latter’s use to describe things that are lower than before.

“Malak is a typical Android logic, an Android, and the qualified Android,” shook during the widely shared broadcast on the Internet.

While a gag was quickly adopted by many Chinese social media users, others accused HU of cultivating social divisions.

It seems that such clear jokes on inequality have become a difficult area – because it enhances the divisions preferred by the Chinese Communist Party.

Control is not new on Chinese internet. Anything that indicates the party’s criticism or leaders or affects the controversial topics that have political effects, which disappears quickly.

What is unusual in this campaign against pessimism is that it seems that it is targeting a set of online behavior that can create or add to a negative feeling.

Zhang Xuefeng, a famous online teacher known for his fiery speech on education and social issues, sparked controversy earlier this month when he pledged to donate at least 100 million Chinese (14 million dollars; 10.4 million pounds) if Beijing decided to invade Taiwan. But this week was not the goal of Chinese censorship.

Local media reported on Wednesday that his accounts on social media – which have millions of followers – have been prevented from obtaining new followers.

When asked about this, one of the employees of Mr. Zhang told the country -owned news port that he was “reflecting”.

Again, it is difficult to know the reason for its reprimand, but some have wondered whether the main message was to broadcast – in an unfair world, you should make practical choices only. Many students and parents follow him for his brutally honest advice – instead of informing young people to follow their dreams, he told them often that they must face the degrees of examination and the financial pressures that dictate it. He had a perfect platform for despair.

Not only individuals. China wants social media platforms to play a role in its massive cleaning on the Internet.

This month, the Electronic Space Administration said it will enjoy “strict penalties” against Xiaohongshu, Kuishou and Weibo social media applications for “negative content”, such as “personal updates of celebrities” and other “trivial information”.

The electronic space administration said: “The clear and healthy electronic space is in the interest of people.”

But any attempts to keep China’s electronic space unnaturally are sure to come at a cost.

“Expressing pessimistic feelings does not necessarily mean a fundamental refusal to participate in the labor market and society as a whole.”

But the deprivation of “relief after venting these feelings,” says, “It may make it worse for its collective mental condition.”

However, the pressures – those that drive more Chinese youth to quit the mice race, “lie in a flat” and their frustrations remain online -. Many of them have returned to the homes of their parents, unable to find work, or a passion for exhausting jobs – it happens enough to call themselves “full -time.”

and Recent research shows that there is already increasing pessimism about future prospects In China. Experts say the party is well aware of it, which is why it is trying to take strict measures against evidence. But will this do?

“If there is anything, the contemporary Chinese history has repeatedly showed that ideological campaigns from top to bottom can flip social roots of problems,” says Dr. Lo.

“Even with a strong government like this tray, it is difficult to arrest the pessimistic feelings when the economy appears to be dark, and the labor market is competing harshly, and the birth rate strikes the bottom of the rocks.”