China Bans ‘Wealth-Flaunting’ Behaviour on Social Media

China has banned online influencers who flaunt “excessive wealth” in a crackdown to regulate social media content.

One famous influencer, Wang Hongquan, known for flaunting his wealth through shows of luxurious properties in Beijing and claims he never wears an outfit worth less than 10 million yuan ($1.3 million), has been banned from Douyin, a Chinese version of Tiktok.

This move comes after China’s Cyberspace Administration launched a campaign in April targeting influencers who created a ‘wealth-flaunting’ niche to garner traffic and followers.

According to NBC News, this is not the first time China has tried to regulate internet behaviour to combat undesirable social media trends and trendsetters.

In 2022, China released a code prohibiting livestreamers from showing off jewellery, luxurious goods, cash, and other high-value assets.

The recent ban has since been attributed to the economic slowdown in China, which has led many to focus on content creation and enabled escapism for users.

The rules say – do not show off your wealth, and any influencers caught doing what the Chinese internet watchdog deemed “toxic influencing” are on the verge of crackdown.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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