China has launched a nationwide campaign aimed at cleaning up its booming micro drama industry, ordering provincial authorities to remove content featuring sexualised themes, excessive violence, materialism and what officials describe as distorted and ‘delusional’ views on relationships and marriage.
Regulators say the crackdown is intended to promote healthier online content and align media with broader social objectives, including discouraging displays of wealth and harmful ideologies.
Production companies will face inspections and be required to address any issues identified by authorities. The move follows earlier efforts to tighten oversight of the fast-growing mobile entertainment sector, which has become a global phenomenon despite criticism over sensational storylines and provocative content.
The campaign forms part of wider government efforts under President Xi Jinping to shape social values, promote social stability and address concerns linked to economic pressures, youth anxiety and growing online negativity.
Micro dramas are short, mobile-focused television series with episodes often lasting just one to five minutes, featuring fast-paced storylines centred on romance, revenge, family conflict and hidden wealth. They have become hugely popular in China, attracting hundreds of millions of viewers and generating billions of dollars in revenue, making them one of the country’s fastest-growing entertainment sectors.
