In a bid to curb harmful negativity during the Olympics, Chinese authorities have detained a 29-year-old woman for allegedly slandering others on social media. The arrest came after Beijing police received tips from the public regarding defamatory posts made about athletes and coaches following a closely watched women's table tennis final.
The final, which featured two Chinese finalists in the national sport of table tennis, sparked heated comments on social media and among partisan crowds in Paris. This led to a backlash in China, prompting the deletion or restriction of thousands of posts and comments on several social media platforms, with hundreds of user accounts being suspended.
State media criticized the outbursts, cautioning against allowing fan culture to erode China's table tennis reputation. This crackdown is part of a broader effort by China's internet regulator to address similar issues related to fan culture, which had previously centered around entertainment stars and has now extended to athletes.
The phenomenon of fan culture around athletes gained momentum in China after the 2016 Rio Olympics, with fan leaders engaging in online battles, manipulating comment sections, and attacking athletes and others, leading to conflicts between fan groups. Some fans have even sought to profit from their activities by selling autographs and photos on social media.
The women's table tennis final in Paris was a highly anticipated rematch from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Despite being the top-ranked player, Sun Yingsha lost to Chen Meng in a closely contested match. Sun's fans expressed their disappointment by flooding social media with hostile comments towards Chen.
Major social media platforms in China, including Sina Weibo and Douyin, took action to remove posts, comments, and videos deemed inappropriate, suspending or banning hundreds of users in the process. The arrested woman is accused of maliciously fabricating information and slandering others, resulting in a negative social impact.
As the Paris Olympics continue, efforts to maintain a positive online environment and uphold sportsmanship are being emphasized to ensure a respectful and supportive atmosphere for athletes and fans alike.
For more coverage of the Paris Olympics, visit AP News.
