The manicured illusion of China's streaming starlets

In China's live-streaming industry, the virtual girl-next-door is just a part of the show

by The Week team

April 26, 2017

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } April 26, 2017

Recommended

Naftali Bennett.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocbs { display: none !important; }

changing of the guard

Israeli parliament approves coalition, Netanyahu out

Joe Biden.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocbu { display: none !important; }

depends on what you mean

Biden, Putin express openness to cybercriminal exchange

Benjamin Netanyahu.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocbw { display: none !important; }

loose cannon

Netanyahu goes 'scorched earth'

G7 summit.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocby { display: none !important; }

that'll do for now

Biden says he's 'satisfied' with G7's final stance on China

G7 summit in Cornwall.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocc0 { display: none !important; }

Daily briefing

10 things you need to know today: June 13, 2021

An Uber.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocc2 { display: none !important; }

Feature

A surge in 'surge pricing'

Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocc4 { display: none !important; }

welcome back

Biden gets thumbs up from Macron

Angela Merkel, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Jan Hecker.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocc6 { display: none !important; }

those days are over

China's U.K. embassy scoffs at G7

Most Popular

President Biden.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdm { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdn { display: none !important; }

The incredible vanishing president

Donald Trump.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdp { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdq { display: none !important; }

What really happened in Lafayette Square?

Trump rally.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocds { display: none !important; }

The big lie

Georgia election workers reportedly received a 'torrent' of threats

Donald Trump.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdu { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdv { display: none !important; }

The Trump scandals we don't know about

In the Heights.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdx { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocdy { display: none !important; }

Trump lyric cut from In the Heights

The Boris bike.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoce0 { display: none !important; }

Gift exchange

The story behind the 'Boris Bike,' Biden's gift to Boris Johnson

Washoe County Schools Superintendent Kristen McNeill

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoce2 { display: none !important; }

meanwhile in Nevada

Nevada group wants teachers to wear body cameras

Alexei Navalny.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoce4 { display: none !important; }

Biden's trip abroad

Biden has 'every intention' of discussing Alexei Navalny during meeting with Putin

Deborah Birx.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoce6 { display: none !important; }

two enemies

Birx reportedly said she had to fight pandemic, Atlas 'together'

A donkey.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoce8 { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoce9 { display: none !important; }

The optimistic case for Democrats

Bernie Sanders.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoceb { display: none !important; }

Sounds dope

Bernie Sanders wants to know if cannabis reporter is 'stoned' right now

George Floyd

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoced { display: none !important; }

'quest for trust and justice'

Teen who filmed Floyd's killing receives Pulitzer citation

An empty shopping cart.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocef { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjoceg { display: none !important; }

My summer of no new stuff

Merrick Garland.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocei { display: none !important; }

department over party?

Why Garland's DOJ is occasionally siding with Trump

Ilhan Omar.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocek { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocel { display: none !important; }

W. James Antle III

The Democrats' identity politics minefield

Kamala Harris

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocen { display: none !important; }

'it was terrible'

Biden allies pan Harris' 1st foreign trip

Barbora Krejcikova

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocep { display: none !important; }

french open 2021

Barbora Krejcikova takes women's French Open title

Finland-Denmark soccer game.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocer { display: none !important; }

breaking

Danish soccer star reportedly awake after on-field collapse

Joe Biden and Boris Johnson

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocet { display: none !important; }

Well Isn't that special?

Boris Johnson tries to make 'indestructible relationship' happen

Political Cartoon.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocev { display: none !important; }

Feature

7 toons about the Dems' Joe Manchin problem

Joe Biden at Stonehenge

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocex { display: none !important; }

Last Night on Late Night

Late night hosts thank anti-vaxxers for Biden's global vaccine generosity

Jennifer Lopez

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocez { display: none !important; }

let's not get loud

Police dealing with 'bogus' 911 calls to Jennifer Lopez's house

Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocf1 { display: none !important; }

the coronavirus crisis

60 million J&J vaccine doses to be thrown out

A voter.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocf3 { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocf4 { display: none !important; }

Bad for Democrats. Good for democracy?

Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocf6 { display: none !important; }

welcome back

Biden gets thumbs up from Macron

Justice Department

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocf8 { display: none !important; }

watchdog

DOJ to probe subpoenas of Democrats under Trump

Participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfa { display: none !important; }

capitol riot

Former California police chief indicted on Capitol riot charges

COVID-19 memorial in UK

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfc { display: none !important; }

Follow the vaccinations

Hundreds of Americans are still dying of COVID-19 every day

Use cars

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfe { display: none !important; }

Invisible hands

Used cars and trucks drove much of May's steep inflation

Donald Trump

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfg { display: none !important; }

Viva la Vida

Trump is reportedly living in Florida 'like Napoleon at Elba'

Angela Merkel, Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Jan Hecker.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfi { display: none !important; }

those days are over

China's U.K. embassy scoffs at G7

Elephants.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfk { display: none !important; }

Photos

The week's best photojournalism

Political Cartoon.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfm { display: none !important; }

Feature

5 toons about Harris' immigration stumbles

A big hand.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfo { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfp { display: none !important; }

Bonnie Kristian

The GOP's betrayal of property rights

Flags.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfr { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfs { display: none !important; }

W. James Antle III

Lessons from the Mara Gay controversy

A cigar lit with a 1040.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfu { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfv { display: none !important; }

How to tax billionaire wealth

Verda Tetteh at her graduation.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfx { display: none !important; }

it wasn't all bad

High school grad donates $40,000 scholarship to community college students

The Capitol.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocfz { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocg0 { display: none !important; }

Infrastructure deal breaker?

Queen Elizabeth II

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocg2 { display: none !important; }

royal drama

Harry and Meghan rift 'sad,' 'difficult' for queen

A Celebrity Cruises ship.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocg4 { display: none !important; }

covid cruise

2 guests on Celebrity Millennium cruise ship test positive for COVID-19

Biden and Boris at G7

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocg6 { display: none !important; }

Daily briefing

10 things you need to know today: June 11, 2021

Caitlyn Jenner

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocg8 { display: none !important; }

'not going to get into that'

Jenner refuses to say Trump lost election

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocga { display: none !important; }

whoa

Trump DOJ seized Apple data from Adam Schiff, other House Democrats

Greg Abbott

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgc { display: none !important; }

Abbott's Wall

Texas governor claims Texas will build its own border wall

Joe Manchin.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocge { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgf { display: none !important; }

The left's big Manchin risk

Jeffrey Toobin

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgh { display: none !important; }

he's back

Jeffrey Toobin returns to CNN

President Biden.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgj { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgk { display: none !important; }

Biden has an insurmountable challenge in Europe

Editorial Cartoon.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgm { display: none !important; }

Feature

5 cartoons about vaccine incentives

Annie Murphy.

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgo { display: none !important; }

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_5iyu2qkpvjocgp { display: none !important; }

The revenge of the sitcom wife