Citizens Locked Down in China Share Daily Life in Closed Cities via Overseas SNS

Chinese Government Controls Domestic Platforms

Citizens in Locked-Down Cities Share Grim Daily Life via YouTube and Others

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] As cities in Hubei Province, including Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), are locked down, citizens are spreading videos depicting the local situation through social networking services (SNS).

On the 29th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that SNS serves as a "lifeline" for citizens in locked-down cities like Wuhan to communicate news to the outside world.

Especially as distrust in the government's official announcements grows, it is known that some are bypassing China's internet controls by using overseas platforms such as YouTube.

Mr. Luo Bin, who usually uploads product reviews and travel-related videos on YouTube, has been mainly posting his daily life in Wuhan since the outbreak of Wuhan pneumonia, with his videos reportedly garnering hundreds of thousands of views, according to SCMP.

Mr. Luo recently uploaded a video about waiting in line at a supermarket from early morning amid shortages caused by the city lockdown on the 24th, the day before China's Lunar New Year (Chunje).

He said, "There was no festive atmosphere for Chunje this year," adding, "No one felt like exchanging New Year's greetings; it feels like we are going through a trial rather than celebrating a new year."

He further stated in another video, "I will not upload videos on domestic Chinese platforms," explaining, "Because the Chinese government is cracking down on unverified rumors about the disease."

Another Wuhan-based YouTuber, Mr. Tao Jigong, has also gained fame with videos reaching hundreds of thousands of views since the outbreak, SCMP reported.

In his videos, Mr. Tao showed preparations before going out, such as wearing shoes wrapped in plastic bags along with masks and goggles.

He said, "The incubation period can last up to 14 days, so my biggest worry is whether my family and I might get infected."

Lawyer Cheon Chus, who uploads videos from the Wuhan area via Twitter and YouTube, recently toured the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, suspected as the origin of Wuhan pneumonia, saying, "If I survive and return home alive, that itself will be a victory."

Efforts to convey the situation in China continue not only through foreign platforms but also via local platforms.

On Weibo, considered the Chinese version of Twitter, people are sharing posts under the hashtag "Locked-Down City Diary," sharing local situations. Videos shouting "Wuhan Fighting" are also frequently posted.

Meanwhile, according to the official announcement by China's National Health Commission (NHC) on the 29th, as of midnight that day, the cumulative number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases was 5,974, with a total of 132 deaths reported.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.