The Lens: Tighter screening rules for advertisers of short form videos in China will hit creative freedom

Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, has tightened requirements for its advertisers by implementing a licensing document requirement for those promoting short-form dramas. The move aims to improve industry standards, as well as restrict unlicensed individuals and studios from advertising on the platform.

I think this could be a slippery slope that would end up having a significant impact on the creative freedom of all short video creators. It is also vital to address all the other restrictive measures implemented by the Chinese government, which aim to control content produced and shared on online platforms.

One key aspect is the pressure from regulators on ByteDance, the owner of Douyin, to censor improper content. This could lead to short video creators feeling compelled to self-censor their content to avoid potential consequences.

The government’s censorship of sensitive topics already hinders the ability of short video creators to address crucial social and political issues. The new requirements from ByteDance could further restrict creative freedom on the platform.

Lastly, there could be restrictions on content related to LGBTQ issues and women’s rights. Many LGBTQ-related accounts and content have faced significant limitations, while content related to women’s rights, including the #MeToo movement, continues to be censored. These restrictions could undermine the ability of short video creators to address many social issues.

It is crucial to recognise that these restrictions and censorship measures could end up posing limits on people’s creative freedom. They also are a result of the government’s desire to shape public discourse.

Read the original article in last week’s The Lens

A new study in India adds to the body of evidence that organ donors are predominantly women, particularly in Asia, while the recipients are predominantly men, troubling statistics that experts say illustrate the life-and-death impact of gender inequality.

The report was published on November 15 and is based on data from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) in New Delhi. It showed that between 1995 and 2021, 80 per cent of living donors were women, mostly wives and mothers, while 80 per cent of recipients were men.

That study echoed a 2021 Asian Society of Transplantation report headquartered in South Korea. Based on data from 13 different Asia-Pacific locations, it found that around 60 per cent of all living kidney donors were women. The proportion of female living donors far exceeded that of male living kidney donors across all places except Hong Kong, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

That report also showed that women were less likely to receive transplants compared to their male counterparts.

Doctors find no underlying medical reason why men disproportionately need organ transplants more often than women. “We have to assume that the prevalence of conditions leading to the need for transplants affects men and women at a similar rate. If women who need transplants are not getting treated, it is definitely an issue,” Dr Anil Kumar, director of NOTTO.

One explanation researchers give is that men are seen as the “breadwinners”, therefore making their health a financial priority for families. This mindset is reinforced by patriarchal social structures that deny women their economic freedom and autonomy.
Staff writers

• What could be the reasons behind the gender imbalance in organ donation?

• What more could be done to address the situation?