(Yicai) Nov. 1 -- Chinese social media platforms such as Douyin, China's version of TikTok, and Tencent’s WeChat will require ‘self-media’ influencers with huge followings to use their real names in an effort to maintain order in online communications and enhance the reliability of popular accounts.

Instant messaging app WeChat, microblogging platform Weibo, video sites Kuaishou and Bilibili, lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, and blog site Baijiahao said yesterday that accounts with at least one million followers need to verify their real names, and that will be lowered to 500,000 in the future. Douyin already requires influencers with at least half a million devotees to make their real names public.

If popular accounts fail to comply with the new regulations, they will have their online exposure limited and revenue cut, the platforms noted.

Top accounts shape public opinion when discussing hot social issues, Weibo said, adding that real-name verification will compel ‘self-media’ influencers to take responsibility for their influence.

Ordinary users and account owners who mainly share their daily lives on social media will not be subject to real-name verification, according to Douyin and Weibo. Douyin also said it will set up a system to prevent cyberbullying so that complaints and reports can be dealt with swiftly and action taken against accounts involved in online harassment.

Weibo, Douyin, and Kuaishou have also laid down rules about the fields these popular accounts should cover. 

Douyin requires accounts with at least 500,000 followers posting content related to politics, society, finance, education, hygiene, healthcare, and judice should authorize the platform to display their verified real-name information on their home pages. For Weibo it is social affairs, military affairs, finance and the economy, laws, and healthcare among other areas.

Kuaishou introduced similar rules for accounts related to domestic and overseas news, pressing social topics, healthcare, justice, and other professional domains. Baidu’s Baijiahao has also urged owners of accounts related to fields such as political affairs, finance, economy, education, hygiene, healthcare, and justice to disclose their real names.

Editor: Futura Costaglione