After a nationwide crackdown on telephone sex lines and online gambling sites, China has now banned fortune-telling advertisements.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has banned advertisements on 'birthday decoding' and 'new year fortune-telling' text messages and telephone services on the grounds that they promoted superstition, the state media reported.
"Advertisements that harm young minds or violate regulations will be banned immediately," the administration said.
The administration banned fortune-telling advertisements after receiving complaints about advertisements involving superstition on some TV channels.
Interest in traditional fortune-telling surges every year around the start of the Lunar New Year, when many people seek advice on financial, career and personal matters.
This year, the Chinese New Year falls on February 9.
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