Reference News website reported on June 23 that the British Daily Telegraph website published an article on June 21 titled "In a New Propaganda Campaign, Beijing Leverages the Power of Internet Celebrities," authored by James Warrington. The article is as follows: In Shenzhen, China's technology hub, when American online celebrity "Hyperthyroid Guy" saw a car "dancing," he reacted with his signature "wide-eyed" expression. "Do you understand what I'm talking about?" he shouted into the live stream camera. "This is where they make this stuff—this is Shenzhen!" This was just one of many passionate expressions during the hours-long live broadcast. During the broadcast, this social media star received KFC delivered by drone, personally tried out flying cars, and purchased a Huawei triple-fold screen phone. "Hyperthyroid Guy" has approximately 40 million subscribers on the video-sharing platform YouTube, making these videos perhaps the clearest examples yet of Western internet celebrities promoting China's technological prowess and culture. As China strives to promote its narrative overseas, this marks a new frontier in its propaganda efforts. The latest initiative to attract influencers demonstrates a more coordinated effort by China to win hearts and minds. Reportedly, influencers under the age of 35 with over 300,000 followers on social platforms can apply for a 10-day trip itinerary including Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Handan, and Beijing. For government officials, the motivation behind this move is obvious. By leveraging the authentic voices of influencers, Beijing hopes to spread soft power in a subtler manner. At the same time, by posting content on online platforms such as YouTube, China can also reach a younger audience. Data from the UK Communications Authority shows that in 2024, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and X platform are the top five news sources for people aged 16 to 24. A recent survey by Ipsos found that nearly half of young people trust influencers, and 55% get their news from them every day. On social platforms, British video bloggers have posted videos about Xinjiang and other places. Some vowed to provide their subscribers with the truth about China and expose the "lies" of Western media. In 2023, fast-fashion brand Shein, which was accused of "forced labor," invited influencers to visit its manufacturing factory in Guangzhou. In the video, an influencer with 4 million followers on TikTok said they saw clean factories and happy workers. Rather than forcing its political views through official media, the Chinese government is seeking to enhance China's status as a center for technology and culture through unconventional means. With TikTok increasingly dominating the social media landscape and more Western consumers turning to Chinese-made phones and electric vehicles, relevant departments hope to create an aspirational and even fashionable image of China. Beijing's efforts to open its doors to social media stars are particularly noteworthy, partly because former US President Donald Trump seems to be doing the opposite. Recently, Habib Ramy, considered by many to be the most popular TikTok influencer globally, left the United States after becoming a target of Trump's immigration crackdown. Beijing is no longer solely broadcasting propaganda through official channels. Now, it is seeking to influence global narratives via YouTube and other social platforms. (Translated by Ma Dan) Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518956320280838668/ Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views. Please express your stance by voting "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" below.