Make Platforms Pay for Hosting False, Clickbaiting Videos

Recently, a video of an electric bicycle hitting a blind female, walking on a pavement with a cane in Beijing, went viral. While she was fumbling for her cane, the rider chastised her for "not seeing her way properly."

When the clip was posted online on May 8 by an account identified as belonging to someone with "grade 1 visual impairment," there was an overwhelming outpouring of compassion for the girl and outrage for the callous e-bike rider. The post went viral, with many calling for severe punishment for the perpetrator.

On May 16, the incident took a dramatic turn when local police revealed that the entire event was staged by a man and woman, both in their 20s, for clicks. The duo were placed in criminal detention, facing significant penalties, as May 17 coincided with National Disability Day.

With the truth now revealed, many netizens are questioning the authenticity of previous posts from this account, expressing concern that such blatant exploitation of public kindness will leave those who genuinely need help in a difficult position in the future.

It is pathetic that this account, which already had a large following, would resort to such antics to draw attention.

In this winners-take-all environment driven by algorithms, content creators are highly incentivized to gain more traction by attracting more clicks, likes, and followers.

When mundane real life can no longer provide sufficient material, the more enterprising individuals turn to fabricated dramas, such as those depicting the struggles of boys and girls in remote mountainous areas. These narratives often lead to donations or the sale of local produce.

Each new script attracts a swarm of imitators, but to stay ahead of the competition, some innovation is necessary. The latest example targets blind individuals, and if this trend continues, it will likely lead to monetizing the misery of the vulnerable.

Having fallen victim to such "cry wolf" scams, the compassionate audience, now disillusioned, will inevitably become more cautious in expressing their sympathy or outrage in the future.

Given the repercussions of these scams, it is easy to see why regulators are becoming stricter with the offenders.

For instance, since January of this year, the Cyberspace Administration of China has addressed over 520,000 irregular short videos featuring staged fake content, punishing more than 68,000 accounts.

It is evident that regulators struggle to keep up with the volume of fabricated content.

It is entirely reasonable for regulatory bodies to hold platforms fully accountable for the accounts and content they host.

These platforms stand to gain significantly from the traffic generated by such content.

This principle also applies to traditional media. For instance, if a conventional newspaper disseminates misleading information, the editor bears the responsibility. This accountability fosters a strong commitment to verification.

Rather than attempting to eliminate each misleading video as it appears, the focus should shift to holding platforms accountable. The responsibility should rest with them.

Consequently, platforms may be more inclined to allocate a portion of their resources to due diligence.

According to existing regulations, they should label "fictional and interpreted content" accordingly. A more crucial step is to ensure that failing to label such content has significant consequences.

Enforcing strict content labeling regulations will help curb the trend of indiscriminately attracting traffic through staged videos, contributing to the long-overdue cleanup of cyberspace.