Major country ‘cracks down’ on social media culture with strict new guidelines for influencers
Topics: China, Social Media
Phoebe Tonks
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: China, Social Media
In a digital age, more of us are turning to social media for information on the latest events and trending topics around the world - with influencers at the forefront of setting the daily agenda.
Whether it’s picking the latest outfit to stay ahead of the fashion game or deciding which diet to follow, influencers are seemingly becoming the go-to destination for the information we need.
However, while it may be easy to take every word they say as gospel, it can be hard to distinguish opinion from fact - a problem one country has taken a bold move to tackle.
In order to crack down on harmful trends and myths masquerading as fact, the nation has introduced a new measure to combat misinformation - and that means influencers will no longer be allowed to dole out information on certain subjects unless they have some proven credentials to back up their claims.
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According to reports, the new rules, which came into force on October 25, mean that influencers in China will no longer be allowed to discuss key subjects such as medicine, law, education, or finance unless they can prove they have a professional qualification or degree that makes them qualified to comment.
As part of the new guidelines, media platforms such as Douyin (China’s answer to TikTok), Weibo and Bilibili are said to be tasked with checking these credentials.
However, anyone caught in breach of the rules could face more than a simple slap on the wrist, with platforms that allow the content reportedly facing potential fines of ¥100,000 ($14,000) which could be passed on to users themselves.
In addition, the Cyberspace Administration of China has also implemented new advertising guidelines that restrict the promotion of medical products such as supplements and health foods, to try and stop adverts being disguised as educational content.
The new rules have divided users on social media, with some arguing it is a step in the right direction to protect public safety, while others fear it may stifle free speech.
“You can’t practice medicine, psychology, physio etc, without a license, so I’m not sure why they were allowed to 'practice online' in the first place,” wrote one user in support of the new guidelines.
Another also approved of the changes, adding: “China just set a new global standard no degree, no debate. While the West drowns in misinformation, China’s making sure knowledge comes with responsibility.”
A third said: “I support this rule. Too many discussions on complex topics lack even the most basic logical foundation.”
However, not everyone was impressed with the changes, with some users arguing that it was just a disguised censorship to 'dictate' who was allowed to shape the public conversation.
“China's new law for influencers is a genius move - finally, some accountability for the noise these people make. But let's be real, it's also a clever way to silence dissenting voices. Who gets to decide what's 'accurate' or 'sensitive' anyway,” argued one user.
Someone else echoed a similar fear, saying: “By restricting serious discussions to degree-holders, the government can limit who shapes public opinion on sensitive issues - ensuring that only 'qualified' or state-approved voices influence citizens.
“Officially they claimed that this restriction leads to stop false information about economy, health and political commentary. But this decision will help Chinese government to control narrative and gives authorities more power and control on influencers.”