China’s media regulator orders permanent removal of Toutiao’s jokes app

The State Administration of Radio and Television (SAPPRFT) has ordered the permanent closure of Jinri Toutiao’s jokes app Neihan Duanzi (内涵段子 “implied jokes”) for vulgar content, the day after it ordered the removal of the main Jinri Toutiao news app from China’s app stores for three weeks.

The announcement orders the removal of the Neihan Duanzi app from users devices and from the company’s official accounts. The regulator hopes Toutiao will see this as an example when it looks at reforming other parts of its offering, according to the notice.

Neihan Duanzi predates the Jinri Toutiao app, our sister publication reports (in Chinese), and offers a collection of short silly videos, photos, jokes, and memes.

What you get

Full access to all premium content and our full archives

Members'-only newsletters

Preferential access and discounts to all TechNode events

Direct access to the TechNode newsroom