Massage Apps in Fuzhou Under Fire for Alleged 'Extra Services'
Over the past week, multiple on-demand massage apps in the city of Fuzhou have come under scrutiny after being exposed for offering additional "extra services" during late-night house calls. The apps, including "Dongjiao Daojia" (东郊到家, Dongjiao Home Service), "Shouyue Daojia" (首约到家, First Appointment Home Service), "Xinghe Daojia" (星河到家, Star River Home Service), and "Aishang Wan Yue" (爱尚往约, Love Forever Home Service), have been drawing the attention of local journalists and regulatory authorities due to their alleged connections to illicit activities. The controversy surrounding these apps was initially brought to light by media outlet Hai Bo TV, which reported that as night fell, the business at these apps became increasingly profitable. However, the core service provided by these home service technicians was not home massage, but rather "add-on services." According to the exposé by Southern Metropolis Daily, for a small fee, customers could receive additional "private" services.
16 March 2024
Moreover, during the massage appointments, the technicians' suggestive language would seamlessly flow from one explicit statement to another. While the news of these apps has yet to make international headlines, the story has been widely discussed on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Some commenters expressed their surprise and disbelief at the revelation: "Just by hearing the name, it doesn't sound like a legitimate service. But now it's on the news, so I guess there's no denying it anymore."
"I'm really disappointed in Dongjiao Daojia. I had a positive experience when I used it in Shanghai, and I even recommended the service to others. I can't believe they were involved in something like this." "To be honest, I didn't even know these types of apps existed before reading about all this. How did they manage to pass the platform's screening process?" "My WeChat friends are mostly normal people, and out of over 600 friends, only 3 of them have followed Dongjiao Daojia." In a separate Weibo post, a user shared their shock at how quickly the news of these apps spread once it hit the mainstream news cycle: "Had it not been for the media's report, I doubt many people would have even known about these types of businesses. But now that it's out, I wonder how many people out there are going to start downloading these apps..." Following the initial media exposé, many Weibo users also began questioning the legality of these apps and their services. Some even suggested that users who had previously downloaded these apps should report them to the authorities: "I think this is something that deserves to be reported to the police.
I used Dongjiao Daojia before in Shanghai, and the massage therapist was very professional and diligent. I can't believe they'd be involved in something like this. Who will take responsibility for defaming a legitimate business like this?" "Is there not a single legitimate massage app out there?" On the official Weibo account of Dongjiao Daojia, the company responded to the news by saying that they have been in business for five years and have always upheld the values of professionalism and integrity. They also stated that while they acknowledged the existence of some negative aspects and unlawful behaviors within their industry, they would never condone such actions. Despite these assurances, many on Weibo remain skeptical of the company's intentions and are calling for greater oversight and regulation of these types of apps.
Founded in 2018, Dongjiao Daojia is a subsidiary of Chongqing Ju Mi Network Technology Co., Ltd. and operates as a speedy home service booking platform. The company boasts of providing professional, legitimate, secure, and efficient 24-hour home services to its customers. However, in light of the recent allegations, the company has not yet commented on the specific accusations. As of now, it remains unclear how these apps managed to circumvent the various regulatory hurdles required for their operation. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of current screening measures for online platforms in China. Regardless of the outcome of this scandal, one thing is clear: the exposure of these illicit activities within the home service industry has served as a stark reminder of the need for greater vigilance and scrutiny in the digital era. In the meantime, the public will be watching closely to see how both the platforms and regulatory authorities respond to these allegations and whether any concrete actions will be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
