Chinese Social Media Giants To Strip Anonymity From Accounts With More Than 500K Followers

In a move that has sparked concerns about privacy and doxxing, China’s leading social media platforms have announced that “self-media” accounts with over 500,000 followers will be required to disclose real-name information.

What Happened: Several top Chinese social media platforms, including WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Baidu, and Bilibili, have released individual statements declaring this change. The decision targets “self-media,” encompassing news and information that might not receive government approval, reported Reuters. 

There are mixed opinions on this move, with some users, such as Hu Xijin, a former state media editor, supporting the measure as it promotes responsible speech among influential accounts. 

On the contrary, others worry that the policy will promote doxxing and further diminish online anonymity.

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Two weeks ago, Weibo’s CEO, Wang Gaofei, reassured users that this policy would not affect accounts with less than 500,000 followers. 

ByteDance-owned Douyin stated that it would only ask for real names and restrict such information to verified accounts.

The new rules are expected to impact thousands of influencers on these platforms, which are visited by hundreds of millions of Chinese users daily. 

Accounts with over one million followers will be the first to be affected, and those who do not comply may face restrictions on online traffic and income.

Why It Matters: This move by Chinese social media giants comes amidst an increasing push for online transparency in the country. 

Last week, Weibo’s CEO took the lead by revealing his real name on his account, stating that he was testing the controversial function himself first. 

This latest development seems to be an extension of that initiative, affecting a wider range of platforms and users.

Photo Courtesy: Koshiro K On Shutterstock.com

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