Quicksplained: Why has Chinese influencer Thurman Maoyibei been kicked off social media?

What does it take to be an influencer in China? You certainly cannot tell big little lies. Take the case of Thurman Maoyibei. Her accounts on Chinese TikTok Douyin, Weibo and BiliBili disappeared over the weekend. Wonder why.

The Chinese authorities took action against the prominent social media influencer and shut down her accounts. The move follows the dissemination of a viral story involving fabricated content, sparking widespread attention and subsequent investigation.

Thurman Maoyibei has a combined following of 30 million across the various Chinese platforms. While that is her social media persona, her surname is Xu, according to police in the southern city of Hangzhou.  

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The fabricated story

The fabricated story involved Xu claiming to have received two empty homework books from a Paris coffee shop during her Lunar New Year holiday, purportedly belonging to a Grade 1 student named Qin Lang. She vowed that she would return to China and return the books.

The narrative, which quickly gained traction, led to a nationwide search for the boy named Qin Lang. What followed was a flurry of hashtags – Grade 1 Class 8 Qin Lang,  Primary school kid lost homework in Paris –  and significant online engagement on platforms like Douyin and Weibo.

Initially, the story seemed plausible, capturing the attention of millions. However, doubts surfaced as media outlets and online users questioned the authenticity of the claims.

Despite efforts to verify the details, discrepancies emerged, leading to suspicions of a fabricated account. These suspicions were further fueled when it was discovered that efforts to locate the supposed student, Qin Lang, proved fruitless, with schools denying his existence.

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Investigation and revelations

Following public outcry and mounting scepticism, Hangzhou police investigated Thurman Maoyibei’s viral video. The subsequent findings revealed that Xu and her colleague, surnamed Xue, had orchestrated the fabrication.

It was uncovered that the influencers purchased the homework books themselves, contriving the narrative for online engagement.

China’s public security ministry classified this incident as a “typical example” of its broader campaign against online falsehoods.

Amid a backdrop of heightened scrutiny, authorities have intensified efforts to combat misinformation, irrespective of political or non-political nature. The crackdown has resulted in numerous arrests and administrative penalties, underscoring the government’s commitment to maintaining digital integrity.

Since December, more than 1,500 people have been arrested in connection to online rumours and more than 10,700 people have been handed administrative punishment, the ministry says, according to the BBC.

Thurman Maoyibei’s apologises

In response to the investigation’s findings, Xu issued a public apology, acknowledging her role in spreading misinformation and expressing remorse for “polluting the internet”.

She attributed her actions to a lapse in judgment and emphasised the importance of social responsibility in content creation. Additionally, she urged fellow influencers to learn from her mistakes and uphold ethical standards in their online endeavors.

“I should clearly know my social responsibilities and should not create some content just to grab attention,” Xu said. “I call on my colleagues to learn from my lesson and never fabricate or spread false content. Let’s work together to maintain a clean and healthy online environment.”

Mixed reactions from the public

While some welcomed the closure of Thurman Maoyibei’s accounts as a necessary measure, others questioned the severity of the punishment, viewing the incident as a “harmless joke” rather than deliberate malice.

“She should have put her heart into creating content for such an influential account,” a top Weibo comment read.

“It was not right to fabricate the story, but isn’t this too much. If every account follows this standard we will see many accounts shut down,” another comment with more than 6,000 likes noted.