China launches campaign to keep killjoys off the internet

The Chinese government is taking aim at an emotion that has become all too common on the country's internet - despondency.

This week, China's Cyberspace Administration launched a two-month campaign to curb social media posts that "excessively exaggerate negative and pessimistic sentiments". The goal, according to authorities, is to "rectify negative emotions" and "create a more civilized and rational online environment".

In the crosshairs are narratives like "studying is useless" and "hard work is useless", as well as stories that promote "world-weariness".

China has been grappling with an economic slowdown in the wake of a property crisis, high youth unemployment and cut-throat competition for admission to colleges and jobs - all of which have given rise to a sense of disillusionment among its younger generation.

Young people in China "have serious questions about future prospects of their lives" and "must confront the fact that their livelihood is very likely going to be worse than their parents' generation," Simon Sihang Luo, an assistant professor of social sciences at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, tells the BBC.

And Beijing's anxiety over the bubbling frustration has shown itself in a wave of sanctions hitting the country's influencers and social media platforms.

Censorship is not new to the Chinese internet. Anything that suggests criticism of the Party, its leaders, or touches on controversial topics that have political implications quickly disappears.

What is unusual about this campaign against pessimism is that it seems to target a range of online behavior that could create or add to a sense of negativity.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39r7p47wzgo

Comprehension

What emotion is the Chinese government trying to reduce on the internet?
Which government body launched the campaign?
How long will this campaign last?
What types of posts are being targeted by the campaign?
What is the government’s goal for this campaign?
What economic problems are mentioned as reasons for young people’s frustration?
According to Professor Simon Sihang Luo, how do many young Chinese people feel about their future?
What makes this campaign different from past cases of internet censorship in China?

Discussion

Why do you think the government wants to reduce negative posts online?
Do you think social media can affect people’s emotions? How?
Should governments control what people say online? Why or why not?
How can people healthily express their frustrations?
What are some common sources of stress or frustration for young people in your country?
How does economic pressure affect young people’s outlook on life?
What are some positive ways to create a “civilized and rational online environment”?
How can social media platforms promote optimism without ignoring real problems?
Do you think it’s possible to stop negative emotions from being shared online? Why or why not?
How do you deal with negative news or social media posts?

Vocabulary

Despondency – a feeling of deep sadness or loss of hope.
Curb – to control or limit something.
Rectify – to correct or fix a problem.
Pessimistic – expecting bad things to happen; not hopeful.
Disillusionment – disappointment after discovering something isn’t as good as expected.
Censorship – when speech, writing, or media is controlled or limited by authorities.
Frustration – a feeling of being upset or annoyed because things aren’t going as expected.
Livelihood – the way someone earns money to live.