The Chinese government is coming down hard on social media and video-sharing apps in an effort to police the content that gets shared.

The country is imposing new rules that will make the apps themselves responsible for the content that their users post.

It will also start asking these companies to review all the content that gets posted to them.

Which puts apps like video-sharing TikTok, for example, in a bit of a bind โ€“ it has over 150 million users in China.

A woman views the Chinese social media website Weibo at a cafe in Beijing on April 2, 2012. China's move to shut down websites and curb rumours of a political coup reveal growing nervousness ahead of the nation's first leadership transition in the social media age. The crackdown on the media and Internet is likely to remain in force until President Hu Jintao and other top leaders step down from their Communist Party posts late this year in a 10-yearly leadership change. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
A woman views the Chinese social media website Weibo at a cafe in Beijing (Image: AFP)

The new rules include 100 specific types of content that are to be banned. Things like praising money and discussing Taiwanese independence arenโ€™t cool in the eyes of the Chinese government.

When they ultimately become enforced, it will mean companies like TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn or anyone else that operates in China will have to take on considerably more resources in order to police what is posted โ€“ or risk the wrath of the Chinese government.

Cafe city lifestyle. Portrait of beautiful girl using her mobile phone in cafe.
A girl using her mobile phone in cafe. (Image: Getty)

Meanwhile, the country itself is starting out on a 6-month vetting procedure to cut down on objectional content being posted online.

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โ€˜We will carry out vigorous inspections and close down websites and user accounts that are not in line with the laws and regulations,โ€™ wrote the Cyberspace Administration of China on its website.

โ€˜The goal is to effectively stem the flow of harmful information and to encourage a healthy web environment.โ€™

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