China Launches Crackdown on Micro-Dramas for Obscenity and Violence

Beijing. China has launched a strict campaign against obscenity, violence, and materialism seen in 'micro-dramas' (short digital series) which are becoming extremely popular on mobile phones. The government has decided to tighten control, citing the increasing presence of content that undermines social values in these locally produced short series. China's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has issued clear directives to provincial authorities, ordering the removal of 'soft pornography', violent scenes, distorted notions about marriage and relationships, and excessive displays of wealth and property seen in micro-dramas. According to the administration, such content is developing wrong social thinking in viewers and making the digital environment unhealthy. The government statement described this campaign as a crucial step towards building a healthy content ecosystem. It was also stated that this campaign is linked to the government's broader policy of promoting marriage and preventing the spread of harmful ideologies. Micro-dramas are a mobile-centric entertainment medium that is rapidly gaining popularity in China and various countries worldwide. These short-duration series with fast-paced plots often feature themes such as secret billionaire lovers, illicit relationships, revenge, and exaggerated displays of wealth and property. For this reason, such content has also faced increasing criticism in recent years. Chinese authorities have stated that they will now strictly control not only obscenity but also violence, feudalistic thinking, vulgar titles, and copyright infringement in these content. Local administrations have been instructed to regularly monitor production companies within their areas and make immediate corrections if problems are found. China has previously increased control over the micro-drama sector. Government approval has been made mandatory for productions with high-profile or sensitive themes, and platforms like WeChat and TikTok's Chinese version 'Douyin' have also conducted campaigns to remove such content earlier.