BEIJING: An ongoing campaign has been instrumental in the reduction of vulgar content in group livestream shows and curbing the practice of enticing minors to give tips, China’s top internet regulator announced.
The Cyberspace Administration of China revealed that since the onset of a two-month campaign in early July, more than 7,200 livestream rooms have been penalized for improper activities, including spreading vulgar information and infringing on minors’ rights. Several multi-channel network agencies were removed from platforms due to severe violations.
Group livestream shows, or entertainment programs, involve teams of hosts who perform, chat and interact with viewers in real time.
According to a recent report by the China Association of Performing Arts, the group livestream market was expected to generate more than 15 billion yuan ($2.23 billion) in 2025, accounting for more than 7 percent of the livestreaming and short-video performance sector. With over 8,000 such livestream rooms active daily, the market represents growth of more than 20 percent from the previous year.
In pursuit of online attention and quick profits, some group livestreamers have reportedly resorted to the use of obscene content or sexually suggestive information to solicit tips from viewers. They have also employed high-pressure tactics, such as rapid-fire shouting, to create anxiety and encourage impulsive spending.
In extreme cases, some hosts have even lured children into bypassing parental controls by using their parents’ accounts to participate in tipping.
Following the campaign, cyberspace regulators across China have been tasked with guiding and urging online platforms to enhance content review mechanisms and curb violations. Some internet operators have already implemented measures to address these problems.
For instance, Douyin, a short video-sharing platform, has intensified training for group livestreamers to regulate their performance conduct. Meanwhile, Kuaishou, another short-video service provider, has refined its content review policies and improved its ability to detect vulgar interactions using advanced technologies.
WeChat Channels has also introduced an identity verification feature to weed out suspected underage participants in group livestreams, preventing minors from participating in such activities under false pretenses.
The administration highlighted the importance of the campaign, saying that it will maintain strict oversight and impose harsh penalties on violators to promote healthy and orderly industry development, thereby purifying the online environment.
Earlier this month, the administration exposed several problematic accounts and implemented countermeasures to serve as warnings to others. For example, seven accounts were banned from livestreaming or commenting after hosts were seen wearing skimpy outfits and making suggestive gestures.
In another disclosed case, an account nicknamed “life has flattened the cornpuff of eggs” was shut down for involving minors in group livestream shows, and its affiliated MCN agency was also barred from the platform.
This is not the first time the top internet regulator has cracked down on vulgar group livestreams and the practice of inducing tipping. In November, it released a list of accounts that were in violation and the penalties imposed on them.
One example was the account “Vibe-002”, which utilized a gift-ranking system to drive competition among viewers. It publicly displayed how much each host had received in tips and zoomed in on the private areas of the highest earners to push viewers into tipping more. As a result, the account was either muted or permanently banned from livestreaming. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
