The logo and name of Weibo, a prominent Chinese social networking company, are displayed on a sign. By testing / Shutterstock.com.

World

China’s Crackdown: How Beijing Is Reshaping Social Media Platforms Like Weibo and Kuaishou

China‘s CAC disciplined Weibo and Kuaishou for content failures, part of a crackdown to control online content.

byAndres Castro

September 20, 2025, 11:02 AM

Executive Summary

China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) has issued warnings and “disciplinary measures” against prominent social media platforms Weibo and Kuaishou for content management failures.

Weibo and Kuaishou were scrutinized for highlighting celebrity news and “undesirable” content, aligning with the regulator’s goal of maintaining a “clear, clean and healthy cyberspace.”

This action extends a broader crackdown on social media applications across China, following similar steps taken against Xiaohongshu, underscoring Beijing’s sustained effort to tighten control over its digital sphere.

The Story So Far

China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), is engaged in a sustained and broad crackdown on social media platforms, aiming to tighten control over the digital sphere. This initiative seeks to ensure online content aligns with the government’s vision of a “clear, clean and healthy cyberspace” and its socio-political objectives, specifically targeting what it deems “undesirable” or “trivial” content, such as celebrity news.

Why This Matters

China’s internet regulator’s actions against Weibo and Kuaishou signify Beijing’s intensified effort to control its digital sphere, forcing social media platforms to drastically reshape their content management to align with government objectives and suppress “undesirable” posts, thereby impacting user experience and the overall nature of online discourse within the country.

Who Thinks What?

China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) believes social media platforms like Weibo and Kuaishou have failed in content management by highlighting celebrity news and “undesirable” content, necessitating disciplinary measures to maintain a “clear, clean and healthy cyberspace.”

Weibo, in response to the CAC’s actions, “sincerely accepts the criticism and disciplinary decisions” and has established a “special task force” to address content governance issues.

China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has issued warnings and imposed “disciplinary measures” on prominent social media platforms Weibo and Kuaishou, citing failures in content management. This action, announced recently, extends a broader crackdown on social media applications across the country, following similar steps taken against the Instagram-like app Xiaohongshu last week.

Regulatory Actions and Specific Breaches

Measures Imposed

The CAC declared that these measures would encompass “summonses for interviews, injunctions to correct breaches within a specified period, warnings and strict sanctions against those responsible,” according to an AFP report. This indicates a multi-faceted approach to enforcing compliance.

Content Management Concerns

Both Weibo, a microblogging platform, and live-streaming app Kuaishou are reportedly under scrutiny for highlighting celebrity news and “undesirable” content. This aligns with the regulator’s stated goal of maintaining a “clear, clean and healthy cyberspace” for its citizens.

Industry Response and Broader Context

Weibo’s Rectification Efforts

In response to the disciplinary actions, Weibo stated it “takes the matter very seriously” and “sincerely accepts the criticism and disciplinary decisions” from the authorities. The company confirmed it immediately established a “special task force” to address “governance issues around the trending list” and assume responsibility for content management, as reported by Reuters.

Precedent with Xiaohongshu

This latest move follows the CAC’s targeting of Xiaohongshu, known as Rednote in English, just last week. The regulator had previously ordered “warnings and strict punishment” for executives at the popular lifestyle app, criticizing its online content for containing “trivial” and “negative” posts.

Implications for China’s Digital Space

The ongoing actions by the CAC underscore Beijing’s sustained effort to tighten control over its digital sphere. These measures aim to reshape online content consumption, reinforcing the government’s vision of a regulated internet that aligns with its socio-political objectives.