China's CAC Launches Campaign to Curb Online Negativity Amid Youth Unrest
China's Cyberspace Administration (CAC) has launched a two-month campaign to curb online content that promotes negativity and incites violence. The move follows a rise in youth unemployment and growing discontent among young people. Major social media platforms have removed the 'lying flat' trend and are now promoting 'adversity-defying' narratives.
The campaign, which began on September 22, targets content discussing familial trauma, parental frustration, gender-based antagonism, workplace criticism, and mockery of bosses. Four prominent mainland Chinese influencers with tens of millions of followers were banned within a week of the crackdown. They were accused of promoting antagonism and anxiety, with topics ranging from class divisions to excessive utilitarianism in education.
The CAC's crackdown also targeted troll groups, accusing them of organizing and inciting antagonism and violence through activities such as doxxing. Users advocating for frugal lifestyles ('lying-flatists'), fan communities, and Gen Z online trolls were also silenced or had their posts mass-deleted. The campaign encompasses all online channels, including social media posts, video and live-streaming platforms, hashtags, comments, trending topics, and message boards.
The CAC's campaign is seen by overseas analysts as linked to record-high youth unemployment rates, which reached 18.9 percent in August 2025. Despite the methodology revision in December 2023, the high unemployment rate continues to fuel growing discontent among young people in mainland China. The CAC's move aims to control the narrative and promote positivity online.
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