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China tightens the screws: Influencers now need degrees to speak on finance, health, law
The law mandates credential verification to reduce misinformation and enforce accountability, with up to 90% of influencers affected on platforms like Douyin, Weibo, and Bilibili.
- On October 25, 2025, China enacted a law requiring social media influencers to hold verified professional qualifications before posting on medicine, law, education or finance, expanding oversight of Douyin, Weibo and Bilibili, the Cyberspace Administration of China said.
- The Cyberspace Administration of China framed the rule as an anti-misinformation measure, saying it aims to curb misinformation online and reinforce content accountability by requiring proof of qualifications from influencers on regulated subjects.
- Platforms must verify creators' credentials and add citations and disclaimers; Douyin, Bilibili and Weibo require flagging AI-generated material, with penalties including content removal and fines up to �100,000 .
- The regulation reportedly left up to 90% of influencers out of work by Sunday as platforms and creators scramble to adapt and update moderation systems amid China's 6.7 trillion RMB influencer economy in 2025.
- The CAC will issue further clarifications in the coming weeks, but international observers and critics warn the rules could stifle independent voices and allow arbitrary enforcement.
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China tightens the screws: Influencers now need degrees to speak on finance, health, law
China has rolled out a new law requiring influencers to prove their qualifications before posting about topics like finance, health or law. While officials call it a fight against misinformation, critics see it as a blow to online freedom.
·New Delhi, India
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China Bans Influencers Without Diplomas
Shanghai Municipal Government Building. Credit: Baycrest – CC-BY-SA-2.5 via Wikimedia Commons. Regulators in China have moved to ban influencers without college diplomas, directing social media platforms to verify that they hold professional credentials before commenting on sensitive topics such as finance, medicine, law, or education. The recently implemented policy places legal responsibility on major platforms, including Douyin, Weibo, and Bi…
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Total News Sources30
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Center, 43% Right
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources are Center, 43% of the sources lean Right
43% Right
14%
C 43%
R 43%
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