Regulators to require online authors to register real names

New guidelines from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television require authors of online content to register their real names with publishing platforms instead of using only pen names, The New York Times reported. The new move is part of a continuing effort to rein in online publishing, which in contrast to the heavily regulated print sector has been flourishing relatively unimpeded. Last January state statistics counted more than 274 million readers of online literature in China, about 44% of the country’s Internet users. The move will likely most affect aspiring writers posting on platforms such as Qidian and Rongshuxia.