China’s social media giant bans sugar daddy app
top social media platform WeChat has banned the SeekingArrangement dating website, popularly known as the ‘sugar daddy” app, following criticism from state media that it was a front for prostitution.
It became one of the most downloaded applications in three days earlier this week following which it came under critical scrutiny from state media. “Authorities in Shanghai have launched a probe into a company registered in the city that developed a mobile application providing dating services which allegedly sexualise and exploit women,” the nationalistic Global Times tabloid said in a report titled ‘Mobile app under investigation for providing shady dating service’.
The company behind the app received a license in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone and launched on both iOS and Android platforms in China.
“Infamous for connecting wealthy older men with young women online and sometimes referred to as a ‘sugar daddy’ app, SeekingArrangement entered the country in 2015 with a Chinese language site and apps,” the newspaper reported.
The app asks its male members to list their financial status during registration: annual income starting from 300,000 yuan ($47,350), and net assets from 600,000 yuan, though the company said it doesn't require any bank documents for verification.
Yi Shenghua, a criminal lawyer, said services provided by such websites, though disguised as dating or matchmaking, can be classified as organising or sheltering prostitution, and the website's founder and operator could face criminal charges.
BEIJING:China’s