Beijing is telling its nearly one billion internet users and millions of companies how to behave online during Chinese New Year and the Winter Olympics next week.
The Cyberspace Administration of China is launching a month-long initiative to regulate online content with a focus on five areas. The areas of focus include contemporary celebrity gossip and age-old feudal superstitions, as well as issues surrounding soft pornography, suicide, and violence.
During Chinese New Year, the internet regulator reminded provincial authorities to strengthen enforcement so they can foster a civilized, healthy, and festive environment for public discourse online.
Chinese New Year, which begins on January 31 this year, is the most important traditional festival in China and involves honoring the dead and ancestors. There are days of food and fun, along with setting off fireworks and giving red packets of money to children and the elderly for good luck.
The Chinese believe that one's behavior during this time will affect their luck for the rest of the year. During the festive period, they avoid doing things that may seem suspicious, such as sweeping one's home or wearing dark-colored clothing.
The Winter Olympics in Beijing will begin on February 4 and are one of the major events of this year.
The warning on Tuesday was similar to Beijing's efforts to safeguard social and political stability.
The five areas the CAC will be focusing on are listed below.
1. It is necessary to control online fraud and cyberbullying.
Aggressive behaviors such as online vigilantism, instigating confrontation online, misleading public opinion, engaging in online fraud through sending digital red packets or promising free deliveries online must be curbed.
2. Cleaning up celebrity scandals is continuing the fight against celebrity worship.
The rise of fan circles or combative fan clubs has been of concern to Chinese authorities. China's online celebrity culture is affecting mental health. It wants authorities to clean up information on celebrity scandals during Chinese New Year.
3. Curbing excessive displays of wealth and superstition online.
The CAC wants to stem the spread of bad internet culture by taking down content that worships wealth and money. It would like to take down content that promotesfeudal superstitions, such as fortune telling or online divination.
4. Too much time spent online is harmful to kids.
Minors appearing in live broadcasts is a no-no, as is profiting off of online celebrity children. Authorities said they will be keeping an eye on the popular apps and programs that are popular with children so they are not exposed to soft pornography, suicide or violence. Children spend a lot of time online. Tech giant Tencent has given guidelines to young people on how much game time they can have.
5. Push notifications for news outlets.
obscenities, violence, andhorrifying messages must be weeded out from website landing pages, according to the CAC. Special focus must be given toTrending topics, push notifications, and pages that host important news updates.
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