"Edgy Before the Holiday"...Crackdown Expands to Mentions of 'Non-marriage and Non-childbearing'

China announces crackdown on negative sentiment and low-quality AI content
Regulating 'anxiety about childbirth' content amid plunging birth numbers

The Chinese government has begun a cleanup of the online environment ahead of the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). It has included not only content that fuels negative sentiment and low-quality content generated through the abuse of artificial intelligence (AI), but also content with anti-marriage tendencies such as promoting non-marriage and non-childbearing, within the scope of regulation. This move is seen as a measure reflecting the deepening reality of China’s population crisis.

Passengers move through Zhengzhou East Railway Station in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, ahead of the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). Xinhua News Agency, Yonhap News Agency

'Non-marriage and non-childbearing' labeled as bad values... Gender conflict also regulated

On the 12th, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s internet regulator, announced that it would carry out a month-long special campaign titled "Qinglang (Clear and Bright)·Creating a Joyful and Peaceful Online Environment for the 2026 Spring Festival" starting that day. The authorities selected as key targets for intensive enforcement the malicious incitement of negative emotions, the production and dissemination of AI-based low-quality content, the spread of false information, and the influx of illegal activities.

In particular, the Chinese authorities have decided to define the promotion of non-marriage and non-childbearing, or the encouragement of anti-marriage tendencies, as "bad values" and to include such activities within the scope of regulation. Content that fuels conflict between men and women, or that excessively highlights "marriage phobia" and "anxiety about childbirth," will also be subject to crackdowns. In addition, posts that encourage conspicuous consumption by emphasizing gift comparisons, and content that stirs up conflicts between online fandoms, have been designated as items to be controlled.

The authorities stated that they will establish dedicated teams on major platforms to strengthen round-the-clock inspections during the holiday period, and that they will further reinforce platform responsibility for managing key areas such as the main landing page, real-time search terms, recommendation algorithms, and comment sections.

China's annual births fall below 8 million... 'Population cliff' becomes reality

Image to aid understanding of the article. Weibo

Meanwhile, analysts say that China’s population decline is not a temporary phenomenon but a structural crisis. According to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China on January 19, the number of births in China last year was approximately 7.92 million. This represents a sharp decrease from the previous year’s 9.54 million. During the same period, the number of deaths was about 11.31 million, far exceeding the number of births and resulting in continued natural population decline. As a result, China’s total population fell to around 1.4 billion, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline.

The total fertility rate is also dropping rapidly. After falling to 1.0 in 2023, it is projected to decline further to around 0.97 last year, breaking below the threshold of 1. Some observers warn that if this downward trend continues, China’s fertility rate could approach that of the Republic of Korea, which stands at 0.75, currently the lowest in the world.

In response to this rapid decline in the birth rate, the Chinese government is rolling out a range of low-birthrate countermeasures. According to CNBC, China has fully waived fees for public childcare facilities since October last year, and since January 1 this year it has also been implementing a policy that provides 3,600 yuan (about 750,000 won) per year to households with children under the age of three.