Fabricated Adoption Story Sparks Outrage and Debate on Chinese Social Media

A viral social media post purporting that a 21-year-old unmarried man adopted a 5-year-old orphaned girl has sparked outrage and debate among Chinese netizens. However, authorities have confirmed the story to be a fabrication, likely created to generate attention and boost social media engagement.

The original post, which has since been removed, captured the attention of social media users worldwide. It featured an image of a young man, said to be the adopter, holding the hand of a young girl. The post claimed that the man, identified only by his age, had taken the difficult decision to adopt the girl after she had lost her parents.

However, on February 7, a statement from local authorities in Yunnan Province asserted that the photograph had been stolen, and that the story had been concocted to garner followers and increase traffic. Consequently, the provincial authorities are actively addressing the issue.

The girl's mother, who reported the case, revealed that her daughter was only 3 years old, not 5 as stated in the forged adoption story. She also explained how her attempts to gather evidence to prove her daughter's true age were unsuccessful.

Chinese law imposes strict conditions for adoption. According to the country's civil code, only those aged 30 and above are eligible to adopt, and in the case of unmarried adults, the age difference between the adopter and the child should be at least 40 years. Furthermore, the adoption law passed in 1999 has since been repealed, and the relevant provisions are now included in China's newly implemented Civil Code.

The fabricated adoption story has stirred up a range of reactions on Weibo, with many users expressing disappointment and outrage. Some accused the creator of the story of being irresponsible and lacking basic legal knowledge, while others suggested that the man's age in the story should have been changed to 31, which would have made it more plausible.

One user, referring to the story's perpetrator, asked, "Is it stupid or malicious to believe this fabricated story?" Another user called for legal action against the creator of the fake news, advocating for severe punishment as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to indulge in such deceptive practices.

The man who first shared the fake story on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, claimed to be 21 Dear and stated that he had adopted a 5-year-old girl. Contrary to the laws in China, this purported adoption would not have been legal. Douyin user DouDouJiang, the person who exposed the fabrication, says the man accused of creating the false narrative did not criticize the individual who exposed the truth. Instead, he directed his anger toward DouDouJiang, implying a lack of sincerity.

Several Weibo users have called for the arrest and public exposure of the person responsible for the false narrative. Others have emphasized the importance of not sharing personal information about children on social media platforms and have advocated for stricter controls on adoption processes.

This incident highlights the growing problem of fake news and the need for rigorous fact-checking in the digital age. As the creators of such stories seek to exploit human emotions for their own gain, responsible social media users must remain vigilant to avoid being duped by sensational and unverified content.

As the authorities continue their investigation, it is clear that the 21-year-old adoption story has struck a chord with many in China who are calling for stricter legal enforcement and public awareness to prevent similar deceptions from occurring in the future.

As public demand for justice and transparency continues to grow, only time will tell whether this incident will set a precedent for tackling fake adoption stories and other forms of misinformation in the digital realm.

As the saga unfolds, one thing is certain: the age-old adage "Seeing is believing" must be replaced with "Trust but verify" in the age of the internet, where anyone can become a broadcaster, and the line between fact and fiction is increasingly blurred.

With the digital landscape evolving at a rapid pace, it falls on everyone to play an active role in curbing the spread of false information and promoting a culture of truthfulness and accountability on social media platforms. As the old Chinese proverb goes, "A single spark can start a prairie fire," and it is up to us to ensure that we do not fan the flames of misinformation.