The Chinese regime is censoring online speech against having children as it continues to grapple with population decline.
On Feb. 12, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced its annual Chinese New Year censoring campaign to “create a festive, peaceful, and positive online atmosphere” for the holiday, and included speech against getting married or having children as a target for the monthlong clampdown.
The CAC first targeted such speech in its Chinese New Year censorship campaigns in 2025. The measure, along with other efforts, has apparently failed to reverse the country’s population decline.
The 2026 announcement was made just ahead of a nine-day Chinese New Year holiday beginning on Feb. 15, when younger generations traditionally visit their parents and extended families and get grilled on topics including their romantic relationships and family plans—topics also popular among content creators trying to garner views….
China Censors Online Posts Against Having Children as Population Declines
