China state media criticizes online celebrity-making

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China state media criticizes online celebrity-making

When China Internet platforms should rein in celebrity star-making - state media The logo of the online video site Bilibili Inc is seen at the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, also known as ChinaJoy, in Shanghai.

The opinion piece is one of several similar editorials published this week calling for crackdowns on industries such as gaming and alcohol https: www.reuters.com-article US-Chinese regulation companies - idUSKBN 2 F 61 BJ, which have prompted investors to dump stocks in targets sectors.

The article argued that teenagers' social experience, self awareness, and consumption habits are all affected by new media and technology, while the type of celebrities they follow and admire are closely related to online platforms.

It criticized platforms that create traffic and prioritize celebrities out of unworthy individuals, who can attract attention and money from fans.

Online platforms should strictly control idol development programs and strengthen management of talent show programs by controlling reviews, voting mechanisms, and comments, it said.

The article did not name specific companies. Popular platforms in China for fans to interact with celebrities include Bilibili Inc, Weibo Corp, Kuaishou Technology and ByteDance-backed Douyin.

The piece comes after Chinese-Canadian pop singer kris-wu was detained by police https: www.reuters.com lifestyle police-china - arrest-canadian pop star Kris Wu over-rape - allegation - 2021 - 08 - 01 amid allegations of seducing underage women. Wu has denied the accusations.

Wu's case has been widely followed in China and seen as a sign of excesses in China's entertainment industry and timely in the wake of the global MeToo movement.

A series of similar articles have been published in state media recently pointing to problems in a range of industries.

This week state media or government agencies have published articles targeting the gaming, alcohol and e-cigarette sectors causing shares in related companies to fall.