China bans 'erotic' eating of the fruit on live streams

China bans 'erotic' eating of the fruit on live streams

Authorities have barred live-streaming platforms from airing videos of women

'seductively' eating bananas. Photograph: Alamy

Chinalll has reportedly outlawed the "erotic" online consumption of bananas after the

president, Xi Jinping, called for steps to "rehabilitate" his country's "cyber-ecology".

Speaking at a Communist party summit last year, Xi said action was needed to promote

"civilised behaviour" on China's already heavily controlled internet.

That clean-up has now claimed an unlikely, potassium-rich victim, according to domestic

media reports.

Beijing-controlled broadcaster CCTV said authorities had barred live-streaming

platforms from airing videos in which bananas are "seductively" consumed by young

female presenters.

CCTV said the move was part of a wider attempt to rein in online content deemed too

vulgar, too violent or too sexual.

Live-streaming platforms such as Douyu, Panda-tv, and YY are among those who have

been ordered to clean up their acts, the broadcaster reported.

Such firms will now be required to constantly monitor their output for any hint of illicit

fruit consumption. Presenters have also been banned from wearing miniskirts and

revealing tops.

The measures are a response to the breathtaking but largely unregulated growth in

China's live-streaming sector.

The boom has created a generation of wealthy online celebrities but also a huge

headache for the government, which fears such channels are being used to spread smut.

The state-run China Daily newspaper said there were more than 100 live-streaming

platforms on which young "hosts" broadcast their lives to sometimes huge audiences.

YY, the market leader, claims more than 120 million active users and had revenues last

year of 5.9bn yuan (E630m), according to the Associated Press.

The audience for live streams is almost entirely male, according to reports in the

domestic media, but the content varies hugely. YY users, for example, can tune into live

streams in which presenters draw dogs, play drums, put on their makeup, sing, dance,

cook, dine or take care of their skin.

One of the most famous live-streaming "hostesses" is Papi Jiang, a 29-year-old comedian

who has millions of online followers but was recently reprimanded(61 by authorities for

using foul language during her broadcasts.

Zheng Lu, a Tsinghua University sociologist, said that while it was not morally wrong for

adults to watch "erotic and sexually suggestive content" on the internet, there was a risk

that children could be exposed to the videos.

"I think there is a need for the government to do some supervising in this respect,"

Zheng said, calling for an internet rating system whereby live streams could be classified

like films.

On Monday, after reports Of the banana ban emerged, the China Daily said the live-

streaming industry was braced for stricter regulation. Those using live-streaming sites to

promote "obnoxious shows of violent, sexual or criminal nature" would be targeted, it

said.

Response:  While this article does not directly deal with a great international issue, it does provide a great example of the power of media in today's world and the influence it has on society. The Chinese government has set up the 'banana ban' which prohibits anyone from posting a video or picture depicting someone eating a banana in a sexual manner. It also prohibits women from posting pictures of themselves wearing miniskirts or revealing tops. This article paints this issue to seem ridiculous and it is to a point. However, it cannot be ignored that pornography is a huge issue in many countries all over the world and it all starts with seemingly innocent pictures of scantily clad women eating bananas.

Citation: Phillips, Tom. "China bans 'erotic eating of the fruit on live streams." 9 May 2016. Guardian News and Media Limited. 9 May 2016. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/09/gone-bananas-china-bans-erotic-eating-live-streams>