TikTok Takes Action Against 26 Impersonator Accounts; “Shouldn’t Register Before College”, Says Original “Shoulder Girl”

In a move highlighting the ongoing battle against online impersonation, ByteDance’s Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, announced on June 15th that it had taken action against a wave of accounts attempting to impersonate a recent viral sensation. The platform has disposed of 26 accounts mimicking the identity of “Girl with a Carrying Pole,” and pledged continued vigilance against such fraudulent activity.

The young woman, a high school graduate from Guilin, Guangxi province, captured the public’s attention after images and videos of her shouldering her luggage home using a traditional carrying pole went viral.

According to Douyin, on June 13th, the platform detected multiple accounts using the “Girl with a Carrying Pole”‘s name and profile information, either explicitly or implicitly suggesting they were her.

The platform immediately attempted to contact the student to verify the status of these accounts.

In a statement, Douyin explained that, to protect against potential misuse and exploitation while verification was underway, it took preventative measures. These included resetting user profiles, restricting further profile changes, and implementing new anti-impersonation strategies. The platform added that any legitimate accounts inadvertently impacted would be restored after the verification process.

Further reinforcing that her social media presence is nonexistent, The student confirmed through the media on June 14th that she does not have any social media accounts and would not be creating any before going to university.

Regarding her unexpected fame, the student expressed surprise stating, “I usually help out with farm work using the carrying pole; I don’t want my mother to work too hard.”

She expressed gratitude for the public’s concern but declined offers of financial assistance, stating, “I am still myself, and I must walk my own path.”

To contribute to her family’s financial stability during the summer break, she has taken on a part-time job at a local restaurant, earning a salary of 12 yuan per hour.