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Internet Culture

Internet Culture
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Internet Culture. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The beloved penguin mascot of Tokyo’s Suica transport smart card is set to be replaced when it retires early next year. Regarded by many as the most popular mascot in the country and beyond, the Suica penguin will be replaced by a new character. The new mascot will be selected from three contenders by public vote, set to conclude on September 23.
Japan

Video | Japan’s ‘Suica penguin’ to be replaced in public vote

The public will pick the penguin’s replacement from among 3 candidates by September 23.

Zohran Mamdani

Video | Malaysians appeal to Zohran Mamdani for government action

Mainland China

Video | Live eels spill out on train floor in China

Get to Know

Who is The Rizzler? Meet the viral 10-year-old Christian Joseph

The viral internet meme personality, who rose to fame after wearing a Black Panther costume, has appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s show and met John Cena.

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Internet celebrity The Rizzler, whose real name is Christian Joseph, is known for his “rizz face” expression. Photo: @itztherealrizzler/Instagram
China’s internet censorship

China targets pseudo-history conspiracists who claim civilisations were stolen

Zhejiang agency says pseudo-historical claims – made worse by AI – reflect ignorance and fracture social cognition.

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Hong Kong society

Opinion | How East Asia’s internet cafes became a cheap urban refuge

An informal safety net, these cafes offer gig workers and those between jobs crucial breathing space.

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Crime

Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrested in Miami as UK seeks extradition

The brothers, who were arrested in Romania in 2022, face rape and human trafficking charges.

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Influencer Andrew Tate (right) and his brother Tristan arrive an event in Miami in April. Photo: AP
Japan

Video | Japanese company revs up Gen Z machismo with quirky antics

Business development firm Global Partners starts each workday with shouted mantras and motivational pep talks.

Social media

Video | Japan’s viral property agents get weird

A Tokyo estate agent in a green-screen bodysuit has gone viral – but are the gags stealing the show?

Pokemon

Video | Pokemon cards are fuelling a global crime spree

A burglary at a trading-card shop in Niigata, Japan, saw 5,000 cards worth 10 million yen (US$62,000) stolen on Monday.

Theft of Pokemon trading cards is trending worldwide, with thieves hitting a collectible that has outperformed the US stock market.
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Australia

Video | Australia falls for rowdy Neil the Seal

The 5-year-old elephant seal is a viral sensation in towns in southern Tasmania.

The 5-year-old elephant seal is a viral sensation in towns in southern Tasmania
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Hong Kong

Video | Anti-drug video pulled over claims it promotes drug use

Internet users have been posting selfies, sticker packs and song parodies mocking the video’s AI-generated K-pop girl band.

China society

Opinion | China’s ‘check-in culture’ tourists need a reality check

Superficial ‘check-in tourism’ focused on garnering likes on social media is adversely affecting the lives of locals and the facilities they use.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Kane Parsons, the 20-year-old director of Backrooms

What began as a 4Chan post and then a creepypasta led to Parsons’ viral YouTube series – and now, a debut movie cementing his role in Hollywood.

Kane Parsons at the premiere of Backrooms in California last month. Photo: AP
China’s Communist Party

As pioneering Chinese web forum returns, authorities warn free speech has limits

Financial problems forced Tianya to shut down in 2023, but it returned on Monday to combat the rise of ‘fast-food content’.

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Tianya was a household name among China’s early internet users. Photo: Jiemian News
Fame and celebrity

Meet Backrooms actor Robert Bobroczkyi, who’s 7ft 7 inches tall

It may be summer, but horror films are all the craze right now, the latest being Backrooms starring Chiwetel Ejiofor – but who is the actor playing Pirate Clark?

Hong Kong

Video | Hong Kong Comic Con makes its debut

Mads Mikkelsen, Giancarlo Esposito and Christopher Lloyd are part of the celebrity line-up at Hong Kong’s first event, which takes place May 29-31.

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Fashion

Mark Gong – loved by Rihanna and Lisa – on designing for the modern woman

The Shanghai-based designer is inspired by female stars like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter – and is all for women embracing their ‘nasty, messy’ desires.

Shanghai-based Mark Gong is dialed into pop culture and internet memes alike. Photo: Handout
Doxxing and cyberbullying

Editorial | China’s sports stars show bravery in the face of toxic fan culture

Olympic champion Quan Hongchan is just the latest Chinese star to detail being on the receiving end of abuse from fans.

Sexual harassment and assault

Thousands rally against online sexual violence, pornographic deepfakes in Berlin

The protest highlighted German actress Collien Fernandes, whose ex-partner allegedly created profiles in her name to make contact with men.

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Icons and Influencers

Meet Marcelo Wang, the influencer teaching Rihanna phrases in Mandarin

The content creator boasts over 1 million followers on Instagram, just attended Milan Fashion Week – and speaks Portuguese, too.

Chinese influencer Marcelo Wang with Rihanna at a Fenty Beauty event. Photo: @marcelowang0527/Instagram
Icons and Influencers

Meet Clavicular, the ‘looksmaxxer’ who just made his NYFW debut

He started injecting himself with hormones at 14 to ‘maximise’ his looks, started streaming, and now earns US$100,000 monthly.

Braden Peters, or Clavicular, is among the biggest “looksmaxxing” influencers. Photo: @clavicular0/Instagram
Indonesia

Video | TikTokkers hungry for Indonesian man’s ‘mini-food empire’

The miniature artist became a street vendor after his tiny culinary creations caught the eye of children and adults alike.

Internet

Xibei vs the influencer: why Beijing called time on a restaurant food feud

Communist Party mouthpiece says it’s worrying that online posts can create a crisis for a long-standing business.

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Pop culture in Asia

Video | Hong Kong’s biggest fan-hosted anime event returns

Rainbow Gala, first held in 2007, has been held at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo for a second time after the redevelopment of the Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre in 2024.

Rainbow Gala, first held in 2007, has been held at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo for a second time after the redevelopment of the Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre in 2024.
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Fame and celebrity

What is the relationship ‘swag gap’? Just ask Hailey and Justin Bieber

It’s been 2 years since the Biebers attended a Rhode beauty drop in wildly different outfits – and TikTok seems to think such ‘swag gaps’ are relationship deal-breakers.

Justin Bieber (left) and Hailey Bieber at the 2022 Grammy Awards. Photo: Getty Images
Australia

‘Terrified’ Sydney man with same name misidentified as Bondi gunman

After an online photo was shared thousands of times with ‘terrible’ comments, the young man pleaded for ‘help to stop this propaganda’.

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Australia

Opinion | Australia’s social media ban offers a path between excess and inaction

For policymakers elsewhere, Canberra’s approach to children’s social media use isn’t a model to copy but one to learn from.

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