Why thousands of young Chinese people use a pink dinosaur as their alias

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Why thousands of young Chinese people use a pink dinosaur as their alias

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Users adopt the alias “momo” as a way to speak more freely, evade harassment, and protect personal privacy on Douban and Xiaohongshu. Initially, "momo" was the default username assigned to new accounts on certain platforms.

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Authors

Caiwei Chen

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The "momo" alias empowers individuals to voice their concerns about workplace stress and negative experiences without the fear of employer reprisal.
The adoption of "Momo" as a unified identity in response to a defamation lawsuit illustrates the collective strength and resilience of chinese online communities
Chinese social media users are adopting the online alias "momo" to have a separate online identity for speaking more freely.
Adopting "momo" is a way to challenge censorship and preserve the right to share opinions and experiences in a climate where certain discussions are discouraged.
This alias became particularly popular in Douban communities, providing a safe space to discuss celebrities without facing harassment from rival fandoms
"Momo" users often engage in discussions on contentious topics, such as K-pop and feminism, under the protection of this pseudonymous identity.
The adoption of "momo" is driven by the desire to evade online harassment and safeguard personal privacy.
"Momo" users adopt the alias to express dissenting views and engage in discussions on topics that might otherwise lead to consequences or backlash in their personal or professional lives.
A high-profile defamation lawsuit involving the actor Chen Feiyu and a Douban user named "momo" led to a widespread movement where many Douban users changed their usernames to "momo" and adopted the slogan "We are all momo" in solidarity.
Users value the anonymity of the "momo" identity, which shields them from aggressive fans and personal attacks.
"Momo" provides a shield against speech-based restrictions and allows users to openly express themselves in an environment where freedom of expression is increasingly limited.
Users who have faced threats of punishment from authorities, such as officials from the Communist Youth League, turn to "momo" to protect their online presence and share their experiences without repercussions.

Publish date

10

Month
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02

Day
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2023

Year

12

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00

am

Publisher

Rest of World

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Topics

Mass media industry
East Asia
Offbeat

Web URL

https://restofworld.org/2023/social-media-privacy-momo-dinosaur/

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Caiwei Chen

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The adoption of "momo" is driven by the desire to evade online harassment and safeguard personal privacy.

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Claim

Users value the anonymity of the "momo" identity, which shields them from aggressive fans and personal attacks.

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