Tencent’s Positive Energy Algorithm Task Force and the Perils of “Information Cocoons”

This week, a report at IT House described current company initiatives within the combat to advertise “optimistic vitality” and suppress “malicious” negativity on-line. (As China Media Challenge explains, “’Optimistic vitality’ has been an essential phrase within the Xi Jinping period to seek advice from data controls and official messaging, each domestically and internationally. The time period typically refers back to the want for uplifting messages versus essential or damaging ones – and significantly the necessity for content material that places the Occasion and authorities in a optimistic gentle.”) CDT has translated the IT House report—which attracts closely on the Our on-line world Administration of China’s official statements—in addition to some reactions under:

October 28: Tencent Editor-in-Chief and Vice President of Public Coverage Zhu Dianjun introduced Tencent’s formation of a Optimistic Vitality Algorithm Job Power on the 2025 Content material Creator Carnival in Guangzhou right this moment, Securities Instances experiences.

Zhu mentioned that Tencent depends on WeChat’s distinctive social relationship community to allow the pure movement, based mostly on customers’ mutual belief, of high-quality content material like data sharing, sensible expertise, and emotional resonance. Not solely does this make sharing high quality content material right into a sort of “social gifting” between customers, it additionally systemically curbs the unfold of dangerous data, steadily fostering a wholesome ecosystem through which “the nice drives out the dangerous.”

IT House’s inquiries reveal that for the reason that begin of the particular “Clear and Brilliant: Administration of Widespread Algorithmic Points on On-line Platforms” marketing campaign, in response to intense public concern concerning the risks of algorithmic suggestions exacerbating vulgar content material, “data cocoons,” and opinion polarization, the Our on-line world Administration of China has helped to supervise and information key platforms in optimizing their advice algorithms and adjusting the foundations by which they function. These key platforms have responded proactively by signing the Nanning Declaration on Algorithms for Good; bettering assessment of algorithmically really useful content material; launching devoted pages, channels, and accounts for publicizing the ideas behind algorithmic guidelines; creating new on-line capabilities resembling “Cocoon Evaluation” and “One-Click on Cocoon-Buster”; optimizing providers that assist handle person pursuits and preferences; and enhancing range in algorithmic content material suggestions.

To this finish, platforms together with Douyin, Xiaohongshu [RedNote], Weibo, Kuaishou, WeChat Channels, and Bilibili have systematically optimized a number of capabilities centered on core features resembling weighted advice of positive-energy content material, safeguarding customers’ freedom of alternative, diversifying really useful content material, and growing algorithmic transparency.

In Could of this 12 months, WeChat Channels launched “An Infographic Information to Understanding WeChat Channels’ Algorithmic Suggestions” and the collection “Breaking Out of the Algorithmic Cocoon.” To facilitate breaking by way of “data cocoons,” it launched modern options resembling “Cocoon Evaluation” and “One-Click on Cocoon Buster” to assist customers guard towards the dangers of knowledge cocoons. [Chinese]

Responses gathered from Weibo by CDT Chinese language editors have been extra energetic than optimistic:

计六一六：Hahahahaha, I laughed so exhausting I almost burst a hemorrhoid!

夜喏巫啼：When the algorithm detects customers whose optimistic vitality is operating low, it’s going to mechanically recharge them totally free.

寒月1966：If the whole lot’s optimistic vitality, there’s no vitality in any respect.

大肘子哈哈：The Chinese language Academy of Sciences ought to arrange a Optimistic Vitality Analysis Institute.

Beso_Grande：In future, when AI methods boot up, they received’t be allowed to connect with the damaging terminal. [In an electrical circuit, current cannot flow without both a positive and a negative terminal.]

春天的小北：Racing away from civilization at hypersonic pace.

Beso_Grande：Each Crimson and skilled.

媒体猪哥：Casting an inescapable dragnet of optimistic vitality. [Chinese]

The emphasis on breaking by way of data cocoons—信息茧房 xìnxī jiǎn fáng, equal to “echo chamber” or “filter bubble”—may appear ironic given Chinese language authorities’ devotion of huge effort and assets to cocooning the entire nation’s web. Undeterred, Beijing leveled the identical accusation at Taiwan’s authorities in August:

A Chinese language mainland spokesperson mentioned on Wednesday that the “data cocoon” created by Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Occasion (DPP) authorities is beginning to crumble, as individuals in Taiwan develop into conscious of the actual mainland by way of the web and social networking providers.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Workplace, made the remarks at a press convention in response to some Taiwan media experiences alleging that the mainland is utilizing social media to “brainwash” Taiwan youth.

Zhu mentioned that for a very long time, the DPP authorities have tried to dam channels for Taiwan compatriots to study concerning the mainland and mislead the general public.

Due to web penetration and the speedy evolution of social media, netizens on either side of the Taiwan Strait can now entry information sooner, see one another’s day by day lives extra simply, and interact in additional numerous exchanges, she mentioned. [Source]

Amid the exodus of “TikTok refugees” to Xiaohongshu in January, a weblog put up by “Pingyuan Gonzi” on the nationalist-leaning Guancha argued that “The True Data Cocoon is Truly on Overseas Web sites.” The piece was later translated at The China Academy, an English-language web site with quite a few obvious ties to Guancha and different nationalist voices:

Since Rednote is a Chinese language social platform with a single database, it doesn’t distinguish between home and worldwide variations, and customers from any a part of the world can register utilizing their telephones, creating an amusing scene the place Chinese language and English audio system chat animatedly on the identical platform. Individuals exclaimed—”That is the actual free world.”

[…] Due to this fact, Chinese language social software program doesn’t must particularly create an “worldwide model” for foreigners; a multilingual, unrestricted communication platform is the proper path.

[…] Content material-wise, the Simplified Chinese language [PRC] web hosts probably the most numerous, free, and inclusive content material globally, nearly free from “political correctness.” You may overtly help Russia or Ukraine, Israel or Palestine, be anti-American or pro-American, with none interference. Which Chinese language web site, app, or discussion board isn’t buzzing with heated arguments day and night time, presenting numerous views, and strong logic to argue their correctness and criticize others’ errors? There’s no single entity dominating the discourse; varied ideologies and factions coexist fascinatingly.

Concerning useful resource richness, logical debate expertise, and content material brilliance, the Chinese language web ranks primary globally. Conversely, so-called “overseas web sites” are actual “information bubbles.” English web areas are monopolized by American mainstream media, primarily regurgitating completely different variations of the identical concepts, crammed with common worth and political correctness, missing innovation and enjoyable. Conventional Chinese language [non-PRC Sinophone] web sites are saturated with outdated opinions, seemingly like a cesspool. They’ll’t provide an enticing expertise after extended publicity. [Source]

Chinese language authorities, it swiftly turned out, didn’t agree {that a} multilingual, unrestricted communication platform was the proper path. CDT translated a spread of much less triumphalist Chinese language views on the inflow, together with one Weibo person’s remark: “Everyone knows this isn’t going to finish properly, so let’s take pleasure in this ‘global-village second’ whereas we are able to.”