China Forbids Extravagant Wealth Postings On Social Media, And Takes Down An Influencer's Social Media Account.

Amid a government crackdown on extravagant displays of wealth, Chinese officials have begun removing online influencers recognized for their opulent lifestyles from Chinese social media sites.

In an effort to draw followers and traffic, influencers who "create a 'wealth-flaunting' persona, deliberately showcasing a luxurious life built on money, are being targeted by China's Cyberspace Administration, the country's national internet regulator," which announced the campaign last month.

An influencer named Wang Hongquan, who was well-known for showing off his opulent lifestyle on the Chinese version of TikTok, had his account blocked.

An error message was displayed during searches, stating that the content had been restricted "due to violations of Douyin's community guidelines."

Other online influencers with 2.9 million followers Bo Gongzi (Young Wealthy Lord Bai) and 2.3 million followers Baoyu Jiajie (Abalone Sister) whose Douyin accounts shared comparable content were also blocked.

The current economic downturn in China is said to have particularly affected the middle class.

In a voice message, Lyla Lai, a former beauty influencer with over a million followers on Douyin, said, "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."

Lai stated 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." Lai departed Douyin amid criticism from other users over her sales practices and lifestyle.

“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.”