Advertisement
Bilibili
AbacusCulture

Young Bilibili users balk at video celebrating their ‘rights’ and opportunities in China

A Youth Day video on the streaming site best known for anime shows actor He Bing telling young viewers that he envies the rights they have in China today

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Cosplayers holding Bilibili logos outside the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York in March 2018, when Bilibili went public. (Picture: Bloomberg)
Xinmei Shen
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Video streaming site Bilibili has largely grown its popularity by appealing to younger users, especially anime fans. But a new campaign on the site meant to compliment its young users is backfiring.

For China’s Youth Day on May 4th, Bilibili released a motivational video featuring 52-year-old actor He Bing talking about all the opportunities and rights young people have in China now. Titled “The Rear Waves: Bilibili’s speech for the new generation”. the video alludes to a Chinese idiom: “The rear waves of the Yangtze River drive on those that came before.”

For many young people in China, though, the video’s message just serves as a reminder of what they don’t have as the country’s economy has slowed and online censorship has tightened in recent years.

Advertisement
“I look at you, full of envy,” He Bing says in the nearly 4-minute video, accompanied by footage of young people using technology to learn new languages and explore their interests. “You have rights that we used to crave even in our dreams -- the right to choose.” The speech goes on to compliment the younger generation’s creativity and confidence. Then towards the end of the video, He reminds viewers, “We are in the same flowing river.”
Many motivated viewers repeat Bilibili’s message in bullet comments flying across the screen, telling others to “flow swiftly” and say the video made them tear up. (Picture: Bilibili)
Many motivated viewers repeat Bilibili’s message in bullet comments flying across the screen, telling others to “flow swiftly” and say the video made them tear up. (Picture: Bilibili)
Advertisement

Many comments on the video were supportive, calling the video inspiring and moving. So far, the video has racked up more than 6.8 million views on Bilibili. It’s also been widely shared on other social media platforms, including Weibo and WeChat.

But many other viewers were quick to point out the irony of the video’s message. Under a Weibo post of the video from the state-owned newspaper People’s Daily, some of the most popular comments contrast the inspiring video against the reality they see in China today.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x