Chinese social media giant WeChat shuts LGBT accounts
apnews.com
BANGKOK (AP) — China’s most popular social media service has deleted accounts on LGBT topics run by university students and nongovernment groups, prompting concern the ruling Communist Party is tightening control over gay and lesbian content.

I'm guessing this is true, which is disappointing. However, it doesn't mention any scope of these accounts though, so it's hard to say whether these were targeted for being LGBT accounts or if it's something else that got them banned.

EDIT: We'll see what the gov't does in response to this. Just read FidelCastro's comment, and remember the definition of critical support .

  • blobjim [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    I'm going to assume it isn't true until I hear about it from something that isn't the AP. All they have to do is leave out something like "LGBT NGOs associated with the US" to make it seem more sinister than it might be. The VOA already reposted the AP article on their website lol. The article doesn't even give a reason for the shutdown or what accounts they shut down. It also says "It wasn’t clear whether the step was ordered by Chinese authorities". This seems more like part of a western campaign to turn "progressive" people in the west against China. Same sort of tactics as the "Chinese people are racist against blacks" stuff we keep seeing.

    Hexbear don't trust the Associated Press or western media challenge 2021. Nobody on this website should be falling for such an evidence-free article.

    • questionasker [any]
      ·
      3 years ago

      In addition to this they didn't cite any sources or give screenshots of any sort, which makes me even more skeptical

    • My_Army [any]
      ·
      3 years ago

      If this turns out to be untrue/exaggerated it just proves how willing westerners are to buy into China bad news even on here.

    • aaaaaaadjsf [he/him, comrade/them]
      ·
      3 years ago

      I mean it definitely happened, you can check on WeChat yourself if you really want to

      But your edits are straight up denying reality at this point. WeChat confirmed the removal of the accounts themselves. No western media required for that. Also China does have a problem with racism, this year's new year's celebration featured blackface. They're not perfect

        • aaaaaaadjsf [he/him, comrade/them]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Yeah the media definitely plays it up, and it's no where near as bad as it seems. The response by the Chinese government to the situation in Guangzhou with the eviction of African immigrants was very good, much better than I've seen in any western countries, though such a situation should never have happened.

          Though on blackface, I think it's pretty much seen as bad in most parts of the world by now. I don't live in the west and most people here think it's unacceptable. I do live in a country that has a majority black population though, with lots of experience with colonialism and racism unfortunately. Maybe it's different in places like China, where there is less exposure to these issues?

          • comi [he/him]
            ·
            3 years ago

            It’s not seen as racist in russia for example, it’s main association is with domovoi and cartoons though, at least it was until recently (until we imported wholesale american racism against black people, instead of our own one). I mean circa 2008 (guess what happened lol) it started getting used in malicious and very racist ways, before that it was what I mentioned (chimney sweepers/domovoi or miners association)

            • aaaaaaadjsf [he/him, comrade/them]
              ·
              3 years ago

              Yeah where I'm from its always been a racist thing associated with the past. No American context needed. But obviously every country has their own history and it will definitely mean different things there.

        • aaaaaaadjsf [he/him, comrade/them]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Check Tsinghua University, apparently their accounts to do with LGBT stuff was removed. Also apparently Peking Universities LGBT student group accounts as well

            • aaaaaaadjsf [he/him, comrade/them]
              ·
              3 years ago

              Ok well that sucks. I haven't used WeChat in years (back when it launched in South Africa, Tencent is actually owned by a South African company) so yeah, I don't know how it works now really.

      • blobjim [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Why were they removed though? People's accounts get removed on social media sites all the time, sometimes flagged by spammers, sometimes from misunderstandings, or other reasons. What were the actual reasons given? What's important to see is why it was done. Which this article and probably every article about it conveniently can't answer.

    • Yun [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      No need to assume anything. Just withhold judgement until we have more info.