social media

social-media

The Chinese Parents Dancing to Shake Their Kids’ Cancer Blues

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

With nightly dance marathons, a grieving father is helping parents of young cancer patients raise funds and find relief.

White Night Workshop

The Underground Economy Behind Children’s Smartwatches in China

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Children racing to climb smartwatch-based social hierarchies are turning to a smartwatch “gray market,” where they can buy artificial likes and boost their watch account ratings.

Li Xin

The Chinese College Student Who Took on Annoying Elevator Ads

A college junior in Shanghai used a “universal key” to shut down elevator ad screens to protest their intrusive noise, going viral online after netizens applauded the move.

Chen Yiru

On the Pot: Chinese Teens Who Urinated in Hotpot Ordered to Pay 2 Million Yuan

In March, a court ruled that the two teens who drunkenly urinated into a Haidilao hotpot must apologize and pay for their actions. On Thursday, the judgment went into effect.

Dolled Up: The Streamers Scouring Stores for Labubu Fits

Thinking on her feet, a “mobile livestreamer” started selling doll outfits to Labubu fans — but does a market slump mean playtime’s over?

China’s ‘Worst Handwriting Group in History’ Rewrites Grief

The online forum, which began as a way to bond over poor penmanship, has recently expanded into a place to seek solace and help in deciphering notes left by deceased relatives.

Crossing the Line? China’s ‘Fastest Nurse’ Runs Into Trouble

Marathon star Zhang Shuihua promises to tread lightly after post-race comments about her hospital job spark a social media pile-on.

The  Beijing News

China’s Latest Meme Is Sponge Gourd Soup

A recent viral video involving the humble dish has helped make it synonymous with parental nagging and the generational communication divide between parents and children.

In the Clouds: Weather Blogger Shines With Sunglow Forecasts

An amateur meteorologist with a knack for predicting exquisite sunsets says his fans’ passion for weather photography is helping him “escape” life on the construction sites.

Living the Loop: The NPCs Bringing China’s Fantasy Parks to Life

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

In China’s booming immersive tourism industry, “non-playable characters” are thousands of young performers in costume, working marathon shifts of duels and dances to keep tourists entertained.

Jiang Xinyi

Chinese Brand Severs Ties With Marathon Winner Amid Controversy

The “fastest nurse” in China appealed to her employer to recognize running as a legitimate reason to adjust her hospital shifts, dividing netizens and resulting in a terminated sports contract.

Lonely Kids, Digital Revenge: China’s Growing Teen Doxxing Crisis

Behind China’s teen doxxing epidemic lies a deeper story of bullying, absent parents, and young people desperately seeking connection and control.

How China’s Urban Youth Became Obsessed With Birding

Driven by social media, more and more urbanites are taking up birdwatching, helping to increase ecological awareness and molding photography trends to their aesthetic preferences in the process.

Chen Zhenyang

Fan Yiying

Honey Trap: Underage Live-Chat Hosts Getting Paid to Flirt

Live-chat platforms and third-party agencies are using underage hosts to entice audiences to spend money on voice and video calls.

Step By Step: A Disabled Street Cobbler Dreams Big

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

The Paper

Amid Gaokao, Students Turn to a Reclusive Math Genius for Luck

Wei Dongyi had largely stayed out of the public eye since going viral in 2021. But a surprise appearance on Douyin ahead of China’s college entrance exam last week drew millions of new followers within days.

Prestige or Profit? The Dilemma Facing Jingdezhen’s Artists

In China’s “porcelain capital,” traditional craftsmanship is making way for cuteness, as social media shapes consumer habits.

Casting Call: How Actors are Faking Livestreaming Drama

Amid intense competition, many social media hosts are relying on scripted interactions with hired actors to boost traffic and market products.

Zhong Chudi

Niu  Linfeng

Fame, Pursued by Goose: The Chongqing ‘Uncle’ Who Became an Internet Star

Lü Xiao

Amid Push Against Involution, Xiaohongshu Ends Overtime Grind 

Facing high employee turnover, the company says the changes aim to build longer-term relationships with staff.