Thursday, May 30, 2024 - Chinese authorities have started taking online influencers known for their luxurious lifestyles off Chinese social media platforms amid a government crackdown on conspicuous displays of wealth.
China’s Cyberspace Administration, the national internet
regulator, announced a campaign last month against influencers who “create a
‘wealth-flaunting’ persona, deliberately showcasing a luxurious life built on
money, in order to attract followers and traffic.”
One influencer, Wang Hongquan, known for flaunting his
luxurious lifestyle online had his account on Douyin, the Chinese version of
TikTok banned.
Searches returned an error message saying it had been
blocked “due to violations of Douyin’s community guidelines.”
The Douyin accounts of other online influencers who posted
similar content, such as Bo Gongzi (Young Wealthy Lord Bai), with 2.9 million
followers, and Baoyu Jiajie (Abalone Sister), with 2.3 million followers, were
also blocked.
China is currently experiencing an economic slowdown that
has reportedly hit the middle class especially hard.
“When most people are unhappy with their own lives, they see
all this online content that’s so disconnected from reality — seeing all these
people who seem so happy and wealthy, it creates a pretty warped psychology,”
Lyla Lai, a former beauty influencer who had over a million followers on
Douyin, said in a voice message.
Lai, who left Douyin amid criticism from other users over
her sales tactics and lifestyle, said there were “concerns about young people
today seeing too much of this stuff and not focusing on their studies anymore,
getting caught up in this excessive, greedy materialism.”
“In the long run, that’s definitely not good for
development, so this cleanup is really necessary,” said Lai, who now lives in
Australia.
“But at the root of it, we also need to see the economy
being able to develop more, so people can have a greater sense of fulfillment
and happiness in their lives, rather than just seeking psychological comfort
through the internet.”
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