A young man in China was detained after he flaunted an impressive cash gift of 180 million yuan (US$25 million) from his grandmother for his birthday, only to later be discovered to have fabricated the entire story. On October 5, the man was exposed for showcasing luxury cars, jewellery, and antiques on his Douyin account…
Two sources familiar with the situation told the Post that the ban on the highly controversial Chinese online influencer known for his strong anti-West hot takes was expected to last for a year. Both sources declined to comment on the reason for the ban. “He was banned across the platforms for a year. But I…
An influencer in China consumed pig feed costing just 3 yuan (40 US cents) a day to save money, asserting it is healthier than takeaway food, which has sparked widespread health concerns. Kong Yufeng, known online as “King Kong Liuke”, is a popular handicraft influencer on Douyin, boasting 2.8 million followers. She is a graduate…
The past month has been disastrous for some of China’s leading influencers, including the top-earning KOL Crazy Xiaoyangge, who boasts 100 million followers. They have inadvertently tarnished their reputations by selling fake products or attacking strangers during live-streams, inciting online outrage and jeopardising their lucrative careers. The Post examines these cases to illustrate how, to…
Chinese internet regulators are removing social media accounts that use fake information to hype the country’s military strength, including false reports of “cyberwarfare” in the South China Sea. A sample post from June on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, read: “Breaking news: China and the US engaged in 12 hours of cyber warfare, causing Luzon…
China’s latest stock market rally has quickly turned retail investors’ mood across the country from extremely bearish to very bullish, as domestic social media fans a growing sentiment of FOMO – the fear of missing out – even though another round of volatility could be just down the road. That investor euphoria, aroused by the…
Two Japanese tourists recently encountered an aggressive confrontation with a Chinese key opinion leader (KOL) while taking photos at the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, igniting a nationwide debate about racism. Also known as Yuanmingyuan Park, the Old Summer Palace was once one of China’s most magnificent royal gardens until it was devastated by a…