WeChat Bans Nose-Picking, Lip-Licking And Spanking On the Messaging App's Live-Stream Content

Think twice before picking your nose or putting your underwear over your head while live streaming on WeChat.

WeChat, a messaging app used by over a billion people, is run by Tencent. In China, the app is an essential component of daily life, and it can be used for anything from purchases to flight bookings. In addition, Tencent created a live broadcasting function dubbed "Channels" last year, Reuters said.

Chinese authorities have been cracking down on political and "indecent" materials on the internet in recent years, an online tabloid claims.

As a result, WeChat has published a list of more than 70 "common offenses," including, oddly enough, spanking and nose picking.

WeChat is a critical communication tool for millions of Chinese people living abroad. However, other social media platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Twitter and Google are restricted in China.

It's not the first time WeChat has been subjected to government-imposed restrictions.

To clean up the platform, the Chinese internet giant issued a list of dozens of typical "violations" discovered through Channel monitoring.

The use of so-called "vulgar" content is forbidden. This includes sexually suggestive gestures, such as "seductive lip-licking" and concentrating the camera on "sensitive" body regions. Spanking is also not allowed.

It's also against the rules to tell fortunes, pick your nose, or wear undergarments over your head.

Tencent also displays items of clothes that are not permitted to be worn, such as fishnet stockings. In addition, Tencent said women are not allowed to broadcast in just a bikini or wrapped in bed sheets or bath towels.

Anyone who flaunts their tattoos will be breaking WeChat's guidelines.

Other offenses include discussing politically sensitive topics, enabling children to conduct livestreams, and promoting gambling-related content.

Regulators in the world's second-largest economy are currently targeting Chinese technology behemoths. In addition, authorities have been keeping a careful eye on live streaming, which started during the coronavirus outbreak.

Although United States has 19 million WeChat users, previous President Donald Trump effectively banned the service in August of last year.

Trump issued an executive order prohibiting anyone from "engaging in any transaction related to WeChat."

In response, the WeChat Users Alliance has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to overturn the decision.

The lawsuit claimed that Trump and his team had exceeded their powers under the Fifth Amendment. It claimed the app is unlawful because it violated the US Constitution's First Amendment.

While the complaint is pending, the group was granted temporary relief by the appeals court in October. It stated that the ban would be lifted while the case is being resolved.

However, current US President Joe Biden delayed legal procedures in February to properly evaluate several Trump administration prohibitions.

As a result, the platform has continued working in the United States for the time being.

In a 1995 research, 91% of adults in the United States acknowledged picking their noses, with 1.2% admitting to picking their noses at least once an hour.