虎嗅

Online Voices

原文:网上的声音

Summary in One Sentence

This is the honest truth from a seasoned financial content blogger, without a single lie: it explains the real reasons why many bloggers, who dare to tackle sensitive topics, stick to writing articles rather than making videos or podcasts. It also exposes the unspoken rules in the Chinese financial content industry, such as “big V” influencers taking public relations fees and experts profiting from free travel. Finally, it highlights the most painful reality—that many workers and small business owners fail to stand up for their own interests, willingly becoming fodder for traffic generation, and in the end, the benefits all go to those at the top.

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Detailed Analysis

1. Why do bloggers who tell the truth prefer to write long articles rather than make short videos or podcasts?

Many people wonder why top financial bloggers, despite the opportunity to earn more quickly through videos, choose to write long articles for their official accounts. It’s not about their pride; the risks associated with videos and podcasts are over ten times higher than with text. Articles can be carefully crafted, with specific conditions and additional explanations added. Even if the views are sharp, the context helps readers understand the meaning, and those who are willing to spend ten minutes reading are likely to think critically and not misinterpret the content. Videos, on the other hand, are much more vulnerable: a single off-topic remark or a brief, out-of-context snippet can lead to severe backlash, potentially resulting in the loss of the account. Moreover, most viewers of videos and podcasts are not inclined to think critically; they may find complex discussions annoying or dismissive of the speaker’s skills. Additionally, the public opinion surrounding the same topic can change dramatically over time, leaving no room for clarification.

2. The majority of the “bold” influencers you see online are actually much more corrupt than you think

The blogger has been in the financial industry for years and has seen many “leaders” who preach fairness and consumer rights but quickly switch to accepting substantial public relations fees from involved companies, altering their critical articles to praise them. Well-known experts from universities earn millions annually and eagerly accept small fees for speaking at official events, often without even reading the discussion topics. The author explains that participating in such events without any compensation is a strategic choice, as accepting money from a company means one’s stance becomes biased.

3. The most absurd misconception: workers supporting bosses, and small shop owners defending billion-dollar corporations

A ridiculous phenomenon on Chinese social media is that many people fail to align with their own interests. Workers with monthly salaries of 5,000 yuan argue online for tax cuts for corporations, while small shop owners with annual incomes of 100,000 yuan support these same corporations, only to see their businesses threatened by their expansion. The author rightly points out that these “weak” groups should unite to fight for fairer rules, such as higher wages and better working conditions, but instead, they end up fighting against each other, allowing the powerful to profit.

4. The so-called “demographic dividend” on the internet has become a “emotional dividend” for profit makers

In the past, the demographic dividend referred to the availability of cheap labor in factories. Now, it refers to the large number of users who easily engage in confrontational debates over topics like “should young people give up on success?” or “should companies compensate for layoffs?” This generates massive traffic for advertisers and bloggers. Viewers who participate in these debates gain nothing but online fame, while the creators earn millions. Ironically, those who offer solutions are dismissed as unrealistic. This situation drives out those who tell the truth, leaving no one to stand up for the vulnerable.

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In summary, this analysis reveals how the financial industry has become a place where the powerful exploit the vulnerable, with fake narratives and biased information dominating the discourse.