From #MeToo to #RiceBunny: How social media users are campaigning in China

In Chinese, the phrase “rice bunny” is pronounced as “mi tu” and has become a nickname for the #MeToo campaign. The #RiceBunny hashtag, accompanied by emojis of rice bowls and bunny heads, is used by Chinese women to expose sexual harassment. The adoption of nicknames and emojis is not just a public relations strategy designed to increase the popularity of the campaign – it also serves as a tactical response to circumvent online censorship. As the #RiceBunny hashtag on social media shows, even under political pressure activists continue to use their creativity to circumvent the system.