China is banning 'wealth-flaunting' behavior on social media

Online influencers known for their luxurious lifestyles are disappearing from Chinese social media amid an official crackdown on conspicuous displays of wealth.

HONG KONG — Online influencers known for their luxurious lifestyles are disappearing from Chinese social media amid a government crackdown on conspicuous displays of wealth.

One of them, Wang Hongquan, had claimed that he owned seven properties in Beijing, the Chinese capital, and that he never left the house in an outfit worth less than 10 million yuan ($1.38 million). Videos he posted online, the veracity of which could not be verified, appeared to show his maids, numerous Hermès handbags and expensive sports cars that he had purchased.

On Tuesday, his account on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, was inaccessible to his 4.3 million followers. 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’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.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-banning-wealth-flaunting-behavior-social-media-rcna154240

---