Beijing: The Government of China has intensified efforts to curb online expressions of despondency, a sentiment that has grown increasingly visible on social media.
This week, the Cyberspace Administration of China launched a two-month campaign targeting posts that ‘excessively exaggerate negative and pessimistic sentiments.’ Authorities say the initiative aims to ‘rectify negative emotions’ and ‘create a more civilised and rational online environment.’
The campaign specifically targets narratives such as ‘studying is useless,’ ‘hard work is useless,’ and content that promotes ‘world-weariness.’ These measures come amid an economic slowdown, a property crisis, high youth unemployment, and intense competition for college admissions and jobs, all contributing to growing disillusionment among China’s younger generation.
Beijing has also extended its focus to social media influencers and platforms. Well-known content creator Hu Chenfeng recently had all his social media posts removed without explanation.
It is widely believed this was due to a viral livestream in which Hu categorized people and items as ‘Apple’ or ‘Android,’ using Android to signify inferiority. During the livestream, The content creator quipped, “Yours is a typical Android logic, Android person, Android qualification.”
While many users embraced the joke, others accused him of reinforcing social divisions, an area the Chinese Communist Party prefers people not dwell on. Analysts suggest this may relate to the underlying message in his content: in an unfair world, one must make only practical choices.
The campaign also emphasizes platform accountability. The Cyberspace Administration warned apps such as Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou, and Weibo that they could face ‘strict punishments’ for failing to control ‘negative’ content, including ‘sensationalizing celebrities’ personal updates’ and other trivial information. Officials justified the crackdown and stated that, “A clear and healthy cyberspace is in the interests of the people.”
Experts caution, however, that suppressing pessimistic content may have unintended consequences. The pressures driving young people to quit the rat race, ‘lie flat,’ and vent frustrations online remain unchanged.
Many are moving back into their parents’ homes, struggling to find work, or seeking a break from demanding jobs, so common that some now describe themselves as ‘full-time’ children. Research confirms that pessimism about prospects is growing in China, and the Party is clearly aware of this. However, experts argue that top-down ideological campaigns are unlikely to resolve the underlying social issues.
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