Da S's Final Wish Fulfilled: Douyin Bans Accounts for Malicious Behavior
The recent events surrounding the late Taiwanese actress and TV host, Xu Xiyuan, also known as "Da S," have taken a significant turn. Da S passed away on February 2 due to complications from pneumonia, and her family and friends gathered on February 8 to commemorate her third wedding anniversary with her husband, Gu Junye. On the same day, Douyin, a popular Chinese social media platform, announced that it would be permanently banning the accounts of Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei, among others, for their malicious behavior and violations of the platform's community guidelines.
8 February 2025
According to reports, Da S's final post on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging platform, expressed her deep concern and frustration with Zhang Lan's repeated harassment and invasion of her family's privacy. Da S had called on Douyin to take action against Zhang Lan's behavior, which included spreading false information and engaging in malicious marketing tactics. Douyin's decision to ban Zhang Lan's and Wang Xiaofei's accounts is seen as a positive response to Da S's final plea and a step towards protecting the rights and dignity of women and children on the platform.
The accounts of celebrities such as Wang Xiaofei and Zhang Lan were found to have utilized the deceased for malicious hype and marketing, recommending unsubstantiated videos to gain commercial benefits. Despite previous penalties, they continued to post unverified and infringing content, engaging in illegal promotional activities. Their actions were in clear violation of community standards and regulations. The platforms took stringent measures against such behavior, citing the necessity to maintain a respectful and truthful environment for all users.
Zhang Lan has responded to the permanent ban of her account, stating her disagreement and non-acceptance of the decision. She believes that Douyin should explicitly clarify which community guidelines or rules were violated, provide a clear rationale for the punishment, and specify the duration of the ban. Moreover, Zhang Lan highlighted the broader impact of this decision, emphasizing that the punishment will have significant repercussions on the livelihoods of 8,000 employees and their families who are dependent on the enterprise.
The public's reaction to Da S's microblogging last appeal being fulfilled has been overwhelmingly positive, with many users expressing relief and approval of the decision. This outcome is viewed as a significant step towards combating malicious speculation and infringement on social media platforms. Users are now looking to key figures to ensure that similar incidents are handled in a fair and lawful manner going forward. The general sentiment is one of gratitude towards these platforms for taking steps to maintain a respectful and just online community, and there is hope that such actions will continue to safeguard the integrity of online discourse. The incident has sparked widespread discussion and debate on social media, with many praising Douyin's decision to take action against malicious behavior and protect the rights of individuals. The event also highlights the importance of online platforms taking responsibility for maintaining a safe and respectful environment for their users, and the need for individuals to respect the privacy and dignity of others, especially in times of grief and mourning.
