{"id":694017,"date":"2023-06-16T18:17:09","date_gmt":"2023-06-17T01:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=694017"},"modified":"2023-06-23T18:10:39","modified_gmt":"2023-06-24T01:10:39","slug":"weibo-censors-sohu-news-infographics-for-being-too-informative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2023\/06\/weibo-censors-sohu-news-infographics-for-being-too-informative\/","title":{"rendered":"Weibo Censors Sohu News Infographics for Being Too Informative"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week, a striking series of infographics<\/a> meant to highlight social issues such as poverty, disability, depression, youth unemployment, and elder care were scrubbed from Weibo, leaving only the blank gray boxes that Weibo uses to signal censored image content. The original series, which featured colorful graphics and bold statistics, was screenshotted and preserved by some Weibo users before it disappeared. What was perhaps most surprising about the censorship was that the images came from Sohu News, a fairly mainstream media outlet, and most of the statistics were drawn from major media outlets and Chinese government sources such as the State Council, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the National Development and Reform Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The infographics were published by Sohu News as part of their \u201cSpotlight Project,\u201d a public welfare project that aims to shine a spotlight on some of China\u2019s most pressing socio-economic problems, and on the people and organizations endeavoring to solve them. The mission statement on the website for \u201cSpotlight Project\u201d (\u8ffd\u5149\u8ba1\u5212, Zhu\u012bgu\u0101ng J\u00echu\u00e0<\/em>)<\/strong><\/a> describes it thus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The \u201cSpotlight Project\u201d is an innovative public welfare IP project created by Sohu News. The focus is on constructive action that combines the power of the media with the power of government organizations. Through a broad variety of online and offline content, we intend to \u201cshine a spotlight\u201d on public issues and make a meaningful contribution to the public welfare. We look forward to sharing the spotlight with you, and helping more people to see the light. [Chinese<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The screenshot below shows the nine images as they appeared before they were censored. Some of the eye-catching statistics include: \u201cYouth unemployment tops 20%,\u201d \u201cJuvenile criminal prosecutions up 42.8%,\u201d \u201cUnemployed individuals at 31% risk of depression,\u201d and \u201cChina has 85 million disabled individuals.\u201d (See below for full images and more detailed translations.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Small<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The screenshot below shows that by June 15, all of the infographics had disappeared from Weibo and been replaced by blank gray boxes, signaling deleted image content. When the images were still visible, Weibo user @\u6398\u85cf\u5e08_\u675c\u74e6 shared the nine images, with the quip, \u201cSohu News is risking its life.\u201d Another Weibo user (@TRF\u518d\u751f\u4eba\u95f4LesMiserables) shared the infographics and noted, “Sohu News is awesome. Not many media outlets dare to tell the truth.” User @\u6709\u9650\u6b21\u91cd\u590d\u535a\u5f08 wrote, “Why do I get the feeling I should archive this? These images are going to disappear soon.” And Weibo user @\u53f6\u6c89\u6c892022 wrote simply, “Gutsy, gutsy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Another<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The deletion of the infographics underscores the heightened sensitivity of both platform-based and government censors to any perceived criticism of the health or management of the Chinese economy. CDT editors have documented some recent online censorship of essays and analyses related to the unemployment rate, economic stagnation, and other economic topics. Just last week, an article from \u201cCaijing Eleven<\/a>\u201d (a blog created by eleven reporters from the well-respected financial publication Caijing) with the headline \u201cHow Many Young People Are Actually Unemployed?<\/a>\u201d was deleted from WeChat. Another recent WeChat article that attracted a lot of attention, \u201cTen Questions About the Current State of the Economy<\/a>\u201d (by an economic blogger who writes under the name \u6e05\u548c\u793e\u957f, Qinghe Shezhang<\/em>, “Company President Qinghe”) is still available online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The courage of Sohu News in covering the socio-economic issues that affect people\u2019s lives stands out. A WeChat essay published yesterday by blogger \u6656\u601d (Hui Si<\/em>) praises the editors at Sohu News for focusing not just on grand narratives, but on the real challenges and living conditions of ordinary people. The author concluded by writing that the bold Sohu News infographics showed him that \u201cthe news isn\u2019t dead, idealism isn\u2019t dead, conscience isn\u2019t dead<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the source material on which the infographics were based, all of the data and reports are still available, uncensored, on the websites of various news organizations and Chinese government departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CDT has archived all nine infographics and translated the headlines and sources, below<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: Population growth is negative for the first time in 61 years<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom: In 2022, the number of newborns numbered 9.56 million, and the county\u2019s total population decreased by 850,000, the first time in 61 years that population growth has been negative. The fertility rate at the time of first child dropped from 0.7 to 0.5, and the average age of mothers at the birth of their first child rose from 26.4 to 27.4 years of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: China National Bureau of Statistics, “2022 National Economic and Social Development Statistical Bulletin<\/a>“; news.chengdu.cn, “What Does It Mean That the Fertility Rate at Time of First Child Has Dropped to 0.5?<\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: Youth unemployment (for those aged 24 or younger) tops 20% for the first time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: China National Development and Reform Commission, “April 2023 National Urban Survey Shows Unemployment Rate of 5.2%<\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Viewed<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: Prosecutions of juvenile criminal suspects have risen 42.8%<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: [The Supreme People\u2019s Procuratorate of China], “<\/em>White Paper on the Prosecution of Juveniles (2022)<\/em><\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Silhouette<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: Unemployed individuals have a 31% risk of depression<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom: 10.6% of the Chinese population are at risk for depression, and 15.8% are at risk for anxiety. The risk of depression among the unemployed is as high as 31.0%, about three times higher than for those who are employed. In addition, the pressures of schoolwork, dating, and marriage have increased the risk of depression among young people, and mental health is a national issue requiring urgent attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: [Blue Book of Mental Health], “<\/em>Report on National Mental Health Development in China (2021~2022)<\/em><\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: China has approximately 85 million disabled individuals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: State Council of the People\u2019s Republic of China, “<\/em>14th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Development of the Disabled<\/em><\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: Approximately 700 million people have a monthly disposable income of less than 2614 yuan [$367 U.S. dollars]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: China National Bureau of Statistics, “<\/em>2022 National Economic and Social Development Statistical Bulletin<\/em><\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: Roughly 50 million \u201c<\/strong>young elderly<\/strong><\/a>\u201d people are still working<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: China Business News, “<\/em>The Number of \u2018Young Elderly\u2019 in China Hits 150 Million: About 1\/3 Are Still Working, and Are Mainly Engaged in These Industries<\/em><\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: Over 20 million Chinese suffer from rare diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Beijing Illness Challenge Foundation, “<\/em>2022 China Rare Disease Report: Trends and Observations<\/em><\/a>“<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top: At least 150 million \u201conly children\u201d are caring for their elderly parents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: China Business News, “<\/em>Taking a look at 150 million one-child families: it is exhausting to support and to be supported<\/em><\/a>“; CCTV.com, “<\/em>National Health and Medical Commission: By about 2035, the elderly population (aged 60 and above) will exceed 400 million, over 30% of the population<\/em><\/a>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week, a striking series of infographics meant to highlight social issues such as poverty, disability, depression, youth unemployment, and elder care were scrubbed from Weibo, leaving only the blank gray boxes that Weibo uses to signal censored image content. 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