China Deepens Crackdown on ‘Chaotic’ Fandom

China’s top cyberspace watchdog is soliciting feedback from the public on draft regulations designed to protect minors from parts of the internet deemed harmful, which would further rein in China’s “chaotic” fandom culture.

As the country’s sweeping crackdown on the internet sector and celebrity culture continues, the draft published Monday by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) requires those offering online gaming, livestreaming, audio, video and social media services to take measures to stop “excessive focus on viewership,” which may distort minors’ values (link in Chinese). Its impact may be felt widely, as China has more than 180 million internet users under the age of 18, according to a government report published last July.