China has been using strict control over the Internet for years, but the new campaign shows that the authorities are afraid of escalation of negative social moods. The economic slowdown, the crisis on the real estate market and the growing unemployment among young people undermine citizens' trust in the future. The authorities want to counteract these moods by limiting access to content that can strengthen pessimism and social frustration.
See also: Rivals out of coercion. Why China and India are needed right now
As CNN reports, the Chinese cyberspace administration announced that it will remove content that “maliciously misinterpret social phenomena” or “excessively depreciate themselves”. There are also posts promoting “defenetistic narratives”, such as “effort is useless”.
In addition, the “Selling anxiety” content will include the sight in the context of employment, education or interpersonal relationships. The authorities called citizens to report such cases to counteract “malicious incitement to negative moods.”
China takes … pessimists. Censors go to action
In a commentary published by the Chinese state media, which CNN cites, the campaign was described as a “timely” answer to “prevailing chaos”. “The harmfulness of such maliciously dividing content is significant. They can cause collective misunderstandings and social panic, marginalize reason and facts, and even cause offline conflicts,” it was written.
Continuing text under video material
Experts on which CNN cites indicate that the main source of pessimism in China is the economic slowdown. The increase in industrial production and retail sales has reached the lowest level for months, and unemployment among young people increased to record 18.9 percent.
In such conditions, trends such as “lying flat” have gained popularity – a lifestyle promoting minimalism and avoiding stress. The term describing the pursuit of a simple, stress -free life has gained popularity on the Chinese internet in 2021.
See also: The automotive industry beats the alarm. China cut off the world from raw materials
In response to social pressure on the Chinese internet, a new trend has appeared-“people-pud.” As CNN explains, this Young people who avoid leaving home, spending time in bed and ordering food with delivery. Experts predict that the authorities will try to limit such phenomena, but new terms and expressions will continue to evolve.
