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China has punished social media executives after accusing platforms of failing to control trivial and negative content. The country’s internet regulator said stricter oversight was necessary to protect online spaces and warned that future violations would face similar consequences.
The Cyberspace Administration of China announced on Thursday that “responsible individuals” at Xiaohongshu, also known internationally as RedNote, were issued warnings and punishments. Although details of the penalties were not provided, the regulator said the app neglected its core responsibility of managing online content.
According to the statement, Xiaohongshu allowed an influx of posts hyping celebrity lifestyles and other trivial matters, which often dominated its trending searches. The regulator stressed that China’s priority is to maintain a “clear, clean and healthy cyberspace” that reflects the interests of the people.
Xiaohongshu, launched in Shanghai in 2013, has grown into one of China’s most popular apps with hundreds of millions of monthly active users. The platform, similar to Instagram, focuses heavily on lifestyle, beauty, fashion, travel, and food-related content. Its “Explore” page mirrors TikTok’s “For You” feed by recommending posts through algorithms tailored to user interactions.
In addition to being a social platform, Xiaohongshu has become a shopping hub, offering clothing, cosmetics, and accessories. It has also shaped online culture in China by popularizing “da ka,” or “check-in” tourism, where people visit scenic spots primarily to post photos online.
Although generally seen as less censored than Weibo or Douyin, Xiaohongshu features discussions on sensitive topics such as LGBTQ issues and women choosing to remain single. The recent punishments, however, highlight how China continues to tighten control even over lifestyle-driven platforms.
