Discussion keeps the world turning.
They are the viral sensations your algorithm loves.
Ultra short online dramas starring children.
But after mounting outcries over exploitation and inappropriate content,
Chinese regulators have just declared enough is enough.
Today we go behind the crackdown exploring what these new rules mean for the future of digital entertainment and the real kids caught in the spotlight.
We are live from our studios in Beijing.
This is Roundtable.
I'm Steve.
Thank you very much
for sharing your time with us today and for the show I'm with Jing Yu and Yu Shan.
First up...
In response to mounting public concerns over excessively long working hours and the prevalence of inappropriate adult themes,
China's National Radio and Television Administration,
the NRTA,
has unveiled stringent new regulations specifically targeting the booming genre of ultra-short online dramas that feature children in leading roles.
These controversial productions, which have skyrocketed in popularity, by the way,
often blur the lines between childhood innocence and mature narratives,
prompting a critical examination of their impact on both the young performer's welfare and the broader entertainment industry's ethical standards.
This regulatory intervention marks a significant attempt to curb exploitative practices and reshape a digital content landscape where viral success has frequently come at the expense of the children in front of that camera.