• China initiates a two-month crackdown on social media to combat harmful content.
• The campaign targets so-called "malicious incitement of conflict" and negative cultural phenomena.
• Major platforms like Weibo, Kuaishou, and ByteDance's Toutiao face warnings and penalties for poor content management.
• The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) emphasizes improving online content moderation across platforms.
• Authorities have detailed specific content issues for regulation, including discrimination and rumors about the economy.

China's top internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), announced a sweeping two-month crackdown on social media as of September 22, 2023. The initiative aims to combat what the government describes as "malicious incitement of conflict" and "negative outlooks on life," including feelings of world-weariness. This announcement is accompanied by a requirement for social media companies to strictly moderate the content on their platforms, avoiding any material deemed subversive, vulgar, or harmful, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.

This campaign follows recent penalties imposed on major digital platforms. Specifically, companies like Weibo, Kuaishou, and Xiaohongshu have been cited for neglecting their content management duties, leading to the CAC's pledge for "disciplinary and punitive measures." While authorities have not disclosed the precise punishments for these firms, the CAC aims to enhance order within the digital ecosystem by targeting content that could be interpreted as inciting conflict or negativity, reports The Jakarta Post and Dawn.

As part of this regulatory effort, the CAC has also taken action against ByteDance’s Jinri Toutiao and Alibaba’s UCWeb for displaying harmful content that could "damage the online ecosystem." Specifically, these platforms were criticized for allowing "unhealthy content" to appear prominently on their sites. The CAC has issued warnings, requiring corrective actions from these companies, as stated by sources such as India Times and South China Morning Post.

Authorities have outlined particular issues they intend to address through this initiative, including the association of identity, region, and gender with harmful information. This aims to suppress discriminatory content and combat the dissemination of rumors regarding economic matters. Furthermore, the crackdown is intended to foster a "more civilized and rational online environment," according to the CAC's statements reported across multiple sources, including Channel News Asia and Dawn.