social media

social-media

Chinese Users Get Back at AI Male Teen, Casting Him as a Grifter

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

Seniors are falling prey to ads featuring Xiaohai, an AI teen depicted as needing help and lacking affection, leading users to create their own versions portraying him as a criminal.

Li Xin

In China, an AI Idol’s ‘Maternity Leave’ Backfires on Her Creators

The creators of an AI girl group said the stress of managing their concept led them to announce one member’s pregnancy in order to suspend her online persona.

He Qitong

Chinese Olympic Diver’s Mother in Hot Water Over Toxic Parenting

Zhang Jiaqi, the Tokyo Olympics diving champion, has been called a “survivor” of abusive parenting after starring on a reality TV show following celebrity families.

Jiang Xinyi

Marriage Proposal at Beijing Concert Hits Sour Note With Fans

The couple’s romantic gesture drew angry shouts and security intervention. A viral video of the incident later prompted a reported police complaint.

Fan Yiying

Pizza Bao, Spaghetti Stir-Fry: Chinese Students Hack Home Cooking Abroad

To save money and recall nostalgic flavors from home, Chinese students abroad are increasingly posting videos online of themselves making Chinese classic dishes, with some innovative, low-budget takes.

Liu Haowen

Chinese Auto Supplier Faces Backlash for Firing 107 Recent Grads

The company apologized and disciplined four managers after the dismissals drew scrutiny over the difficulties recent graduates face finding new jobs.

Chen Yiru

How a Rotten Apple Brought China’s Internet Into a Mushroom Lab

After a mushroom grew from an apple, researchers turned online curiosity into a two-year breeding project with help from samples sent in from across China.

End of the Vine: China’s ‘Calabash Grandpa’ Cuts Down His Famous Gourds

Seven gourds growing outside his home turned the elderly resident into an online celebrity after visitors linked them to the beloved Chinese cartoon “Calabash Brothers.”

Scammers Are Targeting China’s Content Creators for Ransoms

The practice, known as “account striking,” targets short-video creators, falsely accusing them of platform violations to extract ransoms.

Eye of the Storm: Viral Podcaster Breaks Silence Over Plagiarism Scandal

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

SIXTH TONE ×

A Chinese podcaster famed for grilling filmmaker Christopher Nolan takes shelter from claims she lifts content from overseas sources.

Jiefang Daily

Chinese Mother Buys Daughters Extra Train Seat, Sparking Debate

What seemed like two teenagers buying extra space for themselves turned into a discussion on the absence of support for minors traveling alone — and the difficulties in long-distance family relationships.

After Nolan Interview Fame, Chinese Scholar Accused of Plagiarism

Zhuge Yiyang was catapulted to international academic stardom for her viral interview with Christopher Nolan. Now, Chinese social media users say they’ve found evidence she plagiarized others’ works.

Too Many Cooks: China’s Culinary Titles Face a Credibility Test

From chefs and restaurants to entire cities and towns, prestige titles have become a powerful branding tool. Now authorities are tightening rules around who can award and use them.

Chinese Village’s Viral Cicada Harvest Comes Under Fire

Scientists say that the uptick in cicada nymph collection, popularized by livestreaming, could damage local ecosystems.

Game Changers: China’s Female Football Commentators Take Their Shot

Sports broadcaster Liu Chang on her road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and why she refuses to shy away from gender-based criticism.

Fir  Record

Peak Performance: Mountain in China Hires Influencer

Laojun Mountain, one of China’s most famous peaks, is seeking a content creator to boost tourism by posting short videos about its “sea of clouds” phenomenon.

Social Media Bans Alone Won’t Protect Kids, Chinese Report Finds

In recent years, countries around the world have rolled out policies to curb minors’ social media usage. A recent Chinese university report assesses their efficacy.

A Privet Matter: Why a Farmer Hacked Down China’s ‘Lonely’ Tree

When a social media trend ruined her crops, one villager grabbed an axe and decided to do something about it.

The  Beijing News

China’s Internet Finds Its Mascot: A Tired Opossum

A picture of the animal, known for playing dead, has been spreading online, with users attaching captions riffing on life’s hardships.

Yang Yang

The Rage, Love, and Loneliness Behind China’s Toxic Sports Fandom

Shippers, solo stans, and spreadsheets — Chinese authorities step in as online attacks and arguments engulf the world of elite table tennis.