Chinese mobile phone subscribers are increasingly sending "red text messages" which contain so-called wholesome messages, with a recent spike in usage during the current Spring Festival. The messages, which typically cover a wide spectrum of issues: from advocating social ethics, to inspiring people, and promotion of a low-carbon lifestyle are a counter to the lewd messages currently subject to a government clamp down.
Xi Guohua, vice minister of Industry and Information Technology, recently told the Xinhua news agency that "red text messages" are a counter force to Internet and cell-phone pornography. The term "yellow text message" is widely used in China to describe text messages containing pornography.
"Red text messages will promote a healthy mainstream culture," Xi said.
A China Mobile subsidiary in south China's Guangdong province launched the "red text message" campaign in 2005 to create a harmonious society and generate new income. Since then, 1.5 billion "red text messages" have been sent in Guangdong province.
Later, the campaign spread across China.
The messages are not solely motivated by altruism though - as creators of messages that are forwarded to friends receive a percentage of the messaging revenues generated.
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