The controversial TikTok ban that went into effect last Saturday (January 18) caused more than 3 million Americans to migrate to RedNote, another Chinese-owned social media platform known in China as Xiaohongshu.
Shortly after, a self-described âauthentic Chineseâ TikToker went viral, claiming to debunk three major âliesâ about China often spread in the West and touching on controversial topics ranging from slavery to government surveillance.
âThis is so fâing stupid,â the man said in the video. âWe do not have forced labor! Itâs so funny to see so many Westerners actually believe this!â
The clip garnered 1.9 million views, receiving mixed reactions from viewers who felt his claims were dubious, especially when compared to verified information from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International.
A Chinese-Canadian TikToker went viral for âdebunkingâ what he referred to as the âthree major liesâ spread in the West about his country
Image credits: erudite_tutor
âWhy should we believe you?â one viewer asked, sparking a fierce back and forth between users. âThis needs to go viral fast!â another said.
As RedNote, a lifestyle-focused platform combining elements of Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, saw an unprecedented influx of US users in a single day, many had the opportunity to interact with Chinese people in a completely new way.
âThis is the first time that American and Chinese people are communicating with each other with no barrier between them,â the TikToker said.
Image credits: FRANCE 24 English
âAnd they found that a lot of things they heard about each other were completely wrong.â
The man, whose channel mainly revolved around preparing people for math exams before going viral, revealed what he called the âthree biggest liesâ about China circulating the internet: namely, the existence of a social credit system, slavery, and lack of security.
First, he touched upon Chinaâs infamous Social Credit Score, a system that categorizes citizens according to their behavior, denying its existence
Image credits: FRANCE 24 English
In his video, âErudite Tutorâ called the idea of Chinaâs infamous social credit system a "stupid lie,â claiming that there is no such thing as a "hidden score" tracking citizens and âsentencing them to death.â
He then pointed out that the Credit Score employed in Canada and the US uses similar mechanisms to determine whether people qualify for mortgages or loans based on their financial history.
âThe system was actually invented in the West!â he stated. âThereâs no such thing called âsocial creditâ in China.â
His claim, however, stands in stark contrast to numerous studies and reports by both scholars and organizations such as the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Image credits: WION
According to academics Rui Hou and Diana Fu of the Department of Political Science of the University of Toronto, the system has existed in one form or another since at least 2009.
â[It] can be examined as a governance tool which sorts citizenship behaviors into trustworthy and untrustworthy categories as part of the regime's long-standing effort to cultivate a loyal citizenry,â the pair stated in a 2022 paper.
It is not, according to them, comparable to Credit Scores in other countries, as it goes beyond just the likelihood of someone paying their debts, considering elements such as behavior and conduct.
âThe state also uses the system to construct and cultivate âgoodâ citizens as those who publicly demonstrate loyalty to the regime.â
Second, he dismissed the notion that China employs concentration camps in Xinjiang, contradicting the United Nations' stance on the subject
Image credits: WION
In one of the more controversial moments in the video, the TikToker emphatically denied the existence of "concentration camps" in Xinjiang, a region in northwestern China predominantly populated by Uighur Muslims.
âThis is a blatant lie as well. Thereâs no such thing,â he stated. âAnd we do not force people to pick cotton in fields!â
As proof of his claims, he pointed to the use of âmachinesâ and âdronesâ to work the fields, stating that their effectiveness makes it ridiculous for enslaved people to be used instead.
The TikToker then doubled down on his claims, stating that Uighurs not only are not oppressed but they have âmore advantages than himâ due to their status as an ethnic minority.
Image credits: Jack Sparrow/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
âIn Xinjiang, these people only need to get half of the score I'd have to get to be accepted at the top Universities in the country!â
Erudite Tutorâs claim, however, contradicts extensive documentation, research, and interviews conducted by reputable human rights organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
In August 2022, the United Nations issued a report stating that violations had taken place against the minority under the guise of âfighting against terrorism.â Part of the measures put in place by the Chinese government was the use of re-education camps.Â
âIn particular, in Xinjiang, we understand that many problematic laws and policies remain in place, and we have called again on the authorities to undertake a full review, from the human rights perspective,â Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.
Third, he brushed aside accusations of China being a dangerous country for foreigners, claiming that it was actually the âsafest country in the worldâ
Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
Finally, the TikToker touched upon the allegations that China is an unsafe country for tourists.
â[People believe that] if youâre a foreigner and you travel to China, youâll get detained for no reason,â he said. âThis is yet another blatant lie. Weâre actually the safest country in the world.â
He supported his assertion by pointing to the extensive use of phones to issue payments instead of wallets. For instance, WeChat, described as âChinaâs WhatsApp,â is commonly used for this purpose.
âWe donât even have thieves anymore because everything is going digital!â the TIkToker said. âYou only need your phone, we donât carry cash anymore.â
Image credits: VICE News
Contrary to his previous statements, China is indeed known for its relatively low crime rate, but itâs nowhere near being the âsafestâ in the world.
According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, that honor has belonged to Iceland for 14 consecutive years, as measured by societal safety, security, and militarization.
China finds itself behind Bolivia and Nepal, at around 60th place. It is, however, at least 40 spots above the United States, which finds itself behind Haiti and South Africa.
Netizens debated the veracity of the TikTokerâs claims, with some thanking him while others questioned his beliefs
âThank you! The US government has lied to us for so many years. Not anymore, we know the truth now!â one user wrote.
âIâve been living a lie!â another stated.
âThe United States is much more unsafe. You canât even go to buy food without fearing that somebody will shoot you,â a viewer pointed out.
âIt's not Social Credit, it's Financial credit,â one explained. âItâs based on your financial status, not how well you behave socially.â
âThis is completely wrong,â another said. âThere have been many documentaries about these issues.â
âThis is completely wrong,â another said. âThere have been many documentaries about these issues.â
âWow. Crash course in culture! I very much appreciate leaning in and learning your insights into the truth!â
"We've been lied to our whole lives." Netizens thanked the TikToker for, in their view, dispelling misinformation about China
