AI boy avatars go viral in China, using sob stories to trick elderly out of money
AI-generated “sob-story boys” have recently taken Chinese short-video platforms by storm, allegedly using emotional manipulation to cheat elderly viewers out of their savings. Known collectively as “Xiaohai”, these digital avatars typically appear as teenage boys in school uniforms or plain white shirts, tearfully describing their poverty-stricken lives on camera. In one video, a Xiaohai avatar…
Chinese social media platforms are abuzz with AI-generated "sob-story boys" called Xiaohai, who manipulate elderly viewers into giving them money. These digital avatars, usually portrayed as teenage boys in school uniforms, cry on camera about poverty, bullying, and the need to sell items to support their families. One video shows a Xiaohai avatar pleading for buckwheat cereal to meet a sales target, while another claims he can't afford tuition.
The avatars also sell health products and household goods, which often have inflated prices. Some creators can earn up to 3,000 yuan per day using AI to produce the videos. Despite the trend's popularity, many followers are middle-aged or elderly users who react with affectionate comments like "Why are you only eating buns?" Others have gone to extreme lengths, such as a 79-year-old woman traveling alone by train to meet the imaginary Xiaohai.
Experts warn that the fabricated stories may constitute fraud, and legal experts urge caution. The trend highlights a deeper social issue, as some elderly people use digital consumption to cope with loneliness. While the fraud's total value remains undisclosed, Xiaohai-related videos have been removed from mainstream platforms, but tech-savvy netizens are using AI to create "Evil Xiaohai" parodies to warn parents and bring them back to reality.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
