During a recent livestream, Pokimane and HasanAbi praised China’s technology and urban lifestyle. Taking place on Hasan’s channel, the pair were accompanied by Grammy-winning producer Finneas O’Connell who appeared similarly keen.
Pokimane described Chinese cities as being five to 10 years ahead of the West. Her evidence? The ability to quickly hire professional photographers through apps to take Instagram-ready photos on the street.
She explained that these on-demand photographers will follow you around for cheap rates, much like “Instagram boyfriends” as she tells Finneas. Pokimane framed this as proof of how advanced and service-oriented Chinese urban culture has become compared to America.
The pair focused their praise on fashion, lifestyle conveniences, and app-based services. They painted Chinese megacities as sleek and efficient places where everything feels integrated with digital platforms.
Neither streamer mentioned China’s political landscape or human rights record during this segment. With examples like Tiananmen Square and the Hong Kong protests just to name a couple, it certainly left out a lot of important context regarding this “efficient” society.
More broadly, however, the stream fits into a wider pattern of influencers branching out into China-focused content. Multiple Western influencers have recently traveled to China and produced glowing content about the country’s infrastructure and urban development, with Ludwig Ahgren recently announcing his own China tour.
The trend has started conversations about whether these trips involve sponsorship deals or guided experiences. Critics point out that influencers typically see curated versions of countries during organized trips. They stay in premium hotels and visit showcase locations that whitewash the actions of the Chinese government.
China has ramped up international image campaigns in recent years, and it seems to be working. These influencer trips tend to focus on high-speed rail, cashless payments, modern metro systems, and impressive skylines.
With many more people in the West expressing dissatisfaction with local politics, it has been easy for countries like China to benefit. Opinion polling on China has shown more in the West see it favorably, particularly among younger demographics who tend to make up the majority of streamers’ audiences.
The gig economy as future tech
Pokimane’s photographer example struck many viewers as an odd choice for proving technological advancement, as it is inherently influencer-focused. On-demand creative labor exists in many countries. Apps like Fiverr and Instagram already connect clients with freelance photographers worldwide.
What makes China different is the density and affordability of these services. The country’s gig economy and super-app ecosystems like WeChat make booking photographers seamless, with lower labor costs keeping down prices compared to similar services in Western cities.
