A woman in China has sparked public outrage after being caught staging a fake litter-cleaning video at Haigeng Dam on Dianchi Lake near Kunming, Yunnan province. The incident, which involved the woman deliberately littering the area with plastic bottles before filming herself cleaning them up, has led to her being banned on social media. This act was purportedly done to create an image of herself as a virtuous environmentalist online.
The controversy unfolded on November 4 when the woman, accompanied by her 10-year-old daughter, littered a walking trail near the dam, known for its natural beauty, with dozens of plastic bottles. She then instructed her daughter to film her picking up the bottles, aiming to capture a brief, seemingly altruistic moment. However, a local resident, surnamed Lin, witnessed her actions and confronted her, questioning her motives and accusing her of tarnishing the image of Kunming and its tourists.
Lin expressed his anger and disappointment, suggesting that the woman’s actions implied a misrepresentation of Haigeng Dam as a polluted area and discredited the hard work of local sanitation workers. He also noted that the spot is well-maintained and generally clean.
Following Lin’s exposure of the incident on Douyin, internet users quickly identified the woman as a jobless single mother who used the platform to share content. In her defense, she revealed her financial struggles and injuries that have kept her unemployed for six years, accumulating significant debt. She claimed that her online activities and collecting plastic bottles for recycling were her means of earning a small income.
Despite her explanation, the woman’s account, which had amassed around 3,000 followers, was banned after the incident went viral. Netizens criticized her actions, with some calling her behavior ‘malicious’ and others labeling her as the ‘real rubbish’.
This incident is not isolated in its nature. In August, another woman in Yunnan province was detained by police for staging a video pretending to be a food courier whose motorcycle had been stolen, aiming to gain sympathy and attention online. These incidents highlight a growing trend of staged online content and the societal and ethical issues surrounding the pursuit of internet fame.
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