Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) started implementing new regulations on October 25, requiring influencers discussing professional topics to hold formal qualifications in those fields. The law mandates that content creators addressing medicine, law, education, or finance must provide proof of expertise through degrees, certifications, or professional credentials.
Platforms including Douyin (China’s TikTok), Bilibili, and Weibo must now verify influencer credentials and ensure content includes proper citations and disclaimers. Creators must clearly state when information comes from studies or includes AI-generated elements.
According to IOL, the regulations extend beyond individual creators, requiring platforms to educate users about their responsibilities when sharing content. The CAC has also banned advertising for medical services and products, including supplements and health foods, and has targeted covert promotions disguised as educational content.
The professional credential requirement comes amid a broader effort by Chinese authorities to control online content. In late September, the CAC launched a two-month campaign targeting content that “incites excessively pessimistic sentiment” or “panic” and promotes defeatist ideas such as “hard work is useless,” according to The New York Times (NYT).
Global Context of Creator Verification Issues
The Chinese regulation emerges as UNESCO research reveals significant verification challenges across the creator economy. According to a recent UNESCO study conducted by Bowling Green State University, only 36.9% of digital content creators verify information before sharing it with audiences.
The study found that 41.7% of creators use popularity metrics such as likes and views as primary indicators of credibility for online sources. Content creators predominantly source material from personal experiences (58.1%), followed by independent research and expert interviews (38.7%).
Broader Regulatory Trends
China’s credential requirements represent part of a broader government effort to regulate online content and public sentiment.
Chinese censors have recently taken action against several high-profile influencers. The New York Times reports authorities have punished bloggers who advocated for less work pressure, an influencer who argued against marriage and children on financial grounds, and a commentator who observed China’s quality of life lags behind Western countries.
“In reality, we all experience fatigue and anxiety as a result of work and life, but these real emotions deserve respect and should not be deliberately amplified for traffic. The internet is not a dumping ground for negativity,” China’s state broadcaster CCTV said in an editorial cited by the NYT.
While China’s approach is among the most stringent, other countries are also implementing influencer regulations. Spain introduced its own “Influencer Law” in 2024, requiring high-profile creators earning more than €300,000 annually or with more than 1 million followers to register and adhere to strict advertising guidelines.
Industry Knowledge and Compliance
The UNESCO study highlights knowledge gaps in the industry regarding regulations. About 59% of surveyed creators report being either unfamiliar with or only hearing of regulatory frameworks for digital communications, while 27% are unaware of content creator regulations in their own countries.
Regarding sponsored content disclosure, 52.6% of surveyed creators engage in brand partnerships. Among these, 58.9% use disclaimer labels for sponsored content, 46.8% directly disclose sponsorships, and approximately 7.2% present sponsored content without disclosure.
Local governments and platforms are actively implementing the CAC’s directives. The NYT reports that Weibo suspended more than 1,200 accounts for “spreading rumors” about the economy and government welfare programs. In Zhengzhou, officials investigated social media accounts for portraying the city negatively, while Xi’an suspended five accounts for “spreading false information” about housing prices.
China’s content regulation efforts carry “a distinctly political undercurrent” and demonstrate “concern among its leadership about the spread of malaise as the country grapples with economic uncertainty.” The People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, stated that platforms could no longer let pessimism proliferate unchecked, declaring: “The bugle has been sounded and all parties should act accordingly.”
Dragomir is a Serbian freelance blog writer and translator. He is passionate about covering insightful stories and exploring topics such as influencer marketing, the creator economy, technology, business, and cyber fraud.
Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) started implementing new regulations on October 25, requiring influencers discussing professional topics to hold formal qualifications in those fields. The law mandates that content creators addressing medicine, law, education, or finance must provide proof of expertise through degrees, certifications, or professional credentials.
Platforms including Douyin (China’s TikTok), Bilibili, and Weibo must now verify influencer credentials and ensure content includes proper citations and disclaimers. Creators must clearly state when information comes from studies or includes AI-generated elements.
According to IOL, the regulations extend beyond individual creators, requiring platforms to educate users about their responsibilities when sharing content. The CAC has also banned advertising for medical services and products, including supplements and health foods, and has targeted covert promotions disguised as educational content.
The professional credential requirement comes amid a broader effort by Chinese authorities to control online content. In late September, the CAC launched a two-month campaign targeting content that “incites excessively pessimistic sentiment” or “panic” and promotes defeatist ideas such as “hard work is useless,” according to The New York Times (NYT).
Global Context of Creator Verification Issues
The Chinese regulation emerges as UNESCO research reveals significant verification challenges across the creator economy. According to a recent UNESCO study conducted by Bowling Green State University, only 36.9% of digital content creators verify information before sharing it with audiences.
The study found that 41.7% of creators use popularity metrics such as likes and views as primary indicators of credibility for online sources. Content creators predominantly source material from personal experiences (58.1%), followed by independent research and expert interviews (38.7%).
Broader Regulatory Trends
China’s credential requirements represent part of a broader government effort to regulate online content and public sentiment.
Chinese censors have recently taken action against several high-profile influencers. The New York Times reports authorities have punished bloggers who advocated for less work pressure, an influencer who argued against marriage and children on financial grounds, and a commentator who observed China’s quality of life lags behind Western countries.
“In reality, we all experience fatigue and anxiety as a result of work and life, but these real emotions deserve respect and should not be deliberately amplified for traffic. The internet is not a dumping ground for negativity,” China’s state broadcaster CCTV said in an editorial cited by the NYT.
While China’s approach is among the most stringent, other countries are also implementing influencer regulations. Spain introduced its own “Influencer Law” in 2024, requiring high-profile creators earning more than €300,000 annually or with more than 1 million followers to register and adhere to strict advertising guidelines.
Industry Knowledge and Compliance
The UNESCO study highlights knowledge gaps in the industry regarding regulations. About 59% of surveyed creators report being either unfamiliar with or only hearing of regulatory frameworks for digital communications, while 27% are unaware of content creator regulations in their own countries.
Regarding sponsored content disclosure, 52.6% of surveyed creators engage in brand partnerships. Among these, 58.9% use disclaimer labels for sponsored content, 46.8% directly disclose sponsorships, and approximately 7.2% present sponsored content without disclosure.
Local governments and platforms are actively implementing the CAC’s directives. The NYT reports that Weibo suspended more than 1,200 accounts for “spreading rumors” about the economy and government welfare programs. In Zhengzhou, officials investigated social media accounts for portraying the city negatively, while Xi’an suspended five accounts for “spreading false information” about housing prices.
China’s content regulation efforts carry “a distinctly political undercurrent” and demonstrate “concern among its leadership about the spread of malaise as the country grapples with economic uncertainty.” The People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s official newspaper, stated that platforms could no longer let pessimism proliferate unchecked, declaring: “The bugle has been sounded and all parties should act accordingly.”
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