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Wedding Site Exploits Child Trafficking for Marketing Stunt

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In a shocking marketing ploy a marriage dating website has high-jacked the serious issue of child trafficking as a publicity stunt.

Over the past few days, our WeChat Moments have once again witnessed a message go viral as it only can in China. Child trafficking written in white characters on a black background, across it the red angry words “death penalty” send a very clear message. The image is seemingly part of a survey conducted amongst users officially in order to determine the opinion of the Chinese populace with regards to handing out the death penalty for abductors of society’s most vulnerable members.

Participants enter their personal details and answer the multiple choice question as to whether people who steal children deserve to be killed. Chinese media reports suggest that 80 percent of users support the idea of handing out this sentence for those criminals who make money from tearing families apart.

As the virality of the post makes crystal clear, the topic is one that hits a serious nerve with the general populace; China’s child trafficking problem is considered so serious it has even caught the attention of international media outlets such as the BBC or The Guardian.

Charles Cluster, a documentary film maker familiar with the subject matter writes for the Guardian that the phenomenon, which has been a problem since the 1980s, is caused by a number of factors ranging from the one-child policy to parents willing to sell their illegal offsprings, from the domestic adoption market for kidnapped children to the fines faced by illegal reproduction, which make child-napping more attractiv

That the topic was going to touch a nerve must have been the consideration of the dating and marriage website who is behind the so-called survey, which is in reality nothing but a publicity stunt, as the company has already publicly admitted. A link to their site at the bottom of the page means they have probably reached every single household in possession of a smart phone within China, and certainly a few abroad. 

China Mobile was the one who first exposed the message for what it truly was, suggesting that ¥1 250 000 profit would have approximately been made from this campaign, based on the calculation that 1 000 000 users sign the petition and share it on their WeChat moments. At this point, there have already been 800 000 virtual signatories, so it seems China Mobiles estimates are not far off at all.

At the same time, the marketing ploy fell flat as users jumped on to the content, starting to share pictures online with the same message yet not affiliated to the company. Still, the damage is done, leaving the question open if there is anything some companies wouldn’t do for their 15 minutes of fame and fortune.

In an avalanche-like chain reaction, not only has the accused dating website abused user’s emotional connection to the topic for click bait; many other outlets have jumped on the bandwagon, some of them even featuring interviews with child traffickers.

While one might feel rather critical of this approach to gaining followers, said interview, allegedly publicised by a police officer who was shocked to discover the attitudes of those involved in the trade of minors, gives a chilling insight into the mind of a trafficker caught by the police. The word for word rendition is now to be found all over the Chinese internet, yet NanjingExpat was unable to verify the source and reliability of the information.

As a justification for their actions, the criminal explains that it is “fast and easy money” and that “it’s just a child, the parents can simply have another one”. The accused goes on to elaborate on the two step process involved in trafficking; first the snatching, their responsibility, and in second instance the selling, performed by another person to ensure the children cannot be found by the police.

The perpetrator then continues to non-chalantly describe how they abduct children, adapting their strategy from trickery to outright violence, depending on the liveliness of their victims, as well as their disinterest in what happens to the children once they have been snatched. “No idea where they are sold too, I am just responsible for abducting them. They are sent wherever there are people who want them.” It’s a buyer’s market after all, albeit one with a high price for all involved.

The vetting process for potential victims includes “healthy looks and beautiful clothes”, since “only if the quality is good will you make good money”.

The final question sends goose bumps over one’s body as the arrested admits that he witnessed the death of a young girl, killed by the partner in crime since she was making too much noise. Yet, the interviewee is quick to shirk responsibility, with the argument that, in a twist of irony too cruel to be true, sounds like a child defending themselves to their kindergarten teacher. “It was him, not me!”

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