It’s not just individuals though. China wants social media platforms to play a part too in its massive internet clean-up.<\/p>\n
This month, the Cyberspace Administration said it would mete out “strict punishments” against social media apps Xiaohongshu, Kuaishou and Weibo for failing to rein in “negative” content, such as “sensationalising celebrities’ personal updates” and other “trivial information”.<\/p>\n
“A clear and healthy cyberspace is in the interests of the people,” said the Cyberspace Administration.<\/p>\n
But any attempts to keep China’s cyberspace unnaturally sunny is sure to come at a cost.<\/p>\n
“The expression of pessimist sentiments doesn’t necessarily mean a fundamental rejection of participating in the labour market and society at large,” says Dr Luo.<\/p>\n
But being deprived of “relief after venting these sentiments”, he says, “might make it even worse for their collective mental status”.<\/p>\n
Yet the pressures – the ones that are pushing more Chinese youth to quit the rat race, “lie flat” and take their frustrations out online – remain. Many of them have been moving back into their parents’ homes, unable to find work, or craving a break from exhausting jobs – it’s happening enough that they call themselves “full-time” children. <\/p>\n