Chinese social media users have taken to popular microblog Sina Weibo to mock media coverage of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s visit, since Facebook is blocked in China.
Whilst outlets praised Mr Zuckerberg’s “sincere” acts of diplomacy, web users mocked the activities he has taken part in during his China visit, which included jogging through “hazy” Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, visiting the Great Wall and meeting China’s propaganda chief Liu Yunshan as well as fellow media guru Jack Ma.
‘Two Great Walls in China’
Chinese media have devoted extensive and surprisingly open coverage to Mr Zuckerberg’s visit.
The Breaking News account on Sina Weibo, which has over 49 million followers, asked users the question: “Will Facebook this time successfully enter the Chinese market?”
Despite Facebook being blocked, the post appears to have survived censorship cuts perhaps because Alibaba, headed by internet entrepreneur Jack Ma, owns a 31.4% stake in the popular microblog. Jack Ma is one of the people Mr Zuckerberg met during his visit.
Outlets also virally shared pictures showing the Facebook founder riding a toboggan down the Great Wall, which were originally posted on his Facebook account.
Despite traditionally censoring posts from the US social network, the overseas edition of People’s Daily shared posts on his visit.
These included one by “Michael Wyh”, alluding to China’s firewall.
“I thought there were two great walls in China: one for Mark Zuckerberg, and one for Chinese residents,” it reads, receiving over 100 likes.
Beauty cannot be blocked
Amid heavy media coverage of the Zuckerberg visit, many users expressed bemusement, since they have absolutely no idea who he is.
“Who is this? What is Facebook, what website?” asks PlanAsphy.
Chen Jinlei JC appears to offer an explanation, saying “Overseas Facebook users are all ‘older people’.”
Others simply commented on his physique, especially during his Tiananmen Square jog.
Bad-Jim said “His body is alright”.
“The CEO’s beauty cannot be blocked,” adds LiYouYou_Asik.
Zuckerberg’s China dream
Some shared their understanding of Mr Zuckerberg as someone “well-versed in Chinese culture”, having a Chinese wife, and a daughter who is learning Chinese. They also shared details of someone interested in many aspects of Chinese culture, including martial arts films.
Some went further, sharing afresh a picture that began circulating of Mark Zuckerberg in 2014 and talking about his “China Dream” after he spoke of his affection for President Xi Jinping’s book The Governance of China.
The image being widely shared takes the appearance of a Communist propaganda poster and shows Mr Zuckerberg in army clothing, holding a copy of Mr Xi’s book.
It has been shared by users reading a 21 March post on the Ping West news portal, which commends the Facebook creator, saying, “Zuckerberg also has a ‘China Dream’.”
Facebook – 404
Despite positive coverage of the social media entrepreneur, many users highlighted the difficulties he faces trying to bring Facebook to China.
“Many leaders say Facebook is good,” says Lu Zhenwang. “Why is it good, yet we don’t have it?”
“Zuckerberg wants to connect with the world’s 5 billion internet users, but must first break the GFW,” says Xu Shengxiang, referring to China’s “Great Firewall”.
One of the most popular comments from users has been “404”, referring to the error message “Internet address cannot be found”, which comes up when mainland users try to access the world’s most popular social network.
Facebook was permanently blocked in mainland China from July 2009, when riots broke out in western China between ethic Uighurs and Han Chinese.
‘Doomed to die’
Some users have been bolder in quipping about Mr Zuckerberg’s failed attempts to enter China, through arch wordplay.
