“Strengthen guidance and administration of social Internet services and instant communications tools, and regulate the orderly dissemination of information,” the party’s communique on the issue said, according to Reuters.

Weibo, much like its more global cousin Twitter, allows users to sound short bursts of information that don’t exceed 140 characters. The Guardian explains that users have been growing more bold, using the platform to discuss issues from the handling of a high-speed train crash over the summer to scandals involving official abuse.

The decision didn’t surprise observers. David Bandurski, of Hong Kong University’s China Media Project, told The Guardian: “It is important, but it does not tell us exactly what’s going to happen. It sends the signal: ‘Everyone watch out’.