Post by Catherine Adenle

👀⛔️🤷🏽‍♀️ “No credentials, no advice.” That’s the direction China is taking now. Influencers discussing health, finance, law, or education must now prove their qualifications, degrees, licences, or certifications, or risk having content removed, accounts suspended, and fines reported up to ~$14,000. Platforms like Douyin, Weibo, and Bilibili are being held accountable. They must verify expertise and actively police misinformation. The intention? To tackle a growing problem: Unqualified influencers sharing harmful medical advice, risky financial strategies, and misleading legal guidance. However, this is where the conversation becomes complex. 👍🏾 Supporters say this is long overdue. Trust online has eroded, and credibility needs rebuilding. 👎🏾 Critics argue this could suppress independent voices and limit open discourse. ✴️ Here’s the nuance often missed: This is not entirely new. China has previously required qualifications for livestreamers discussing professional topics. So this is less about silencing opinions, and more about drawing a line between opinion and expertise. Which raises a bigger question for all of us: Should the internet prioritise open voices, or verified expertise, when real-world consequences are at stake? Your perspective matters. Where do you stand? Image:@endbackpain | IG (Give them a follow.) 📌 Tags: #SocialMedia #DigitalTrust #Misinformation #ContentCreators #InfluencerMarketing #Influencers #Regulation #AI #FutureOfWork #Leadership #China #TechPolicy #Technology Source: Reuters.