“It is a way for me to seek meaning in this absurd world":  Digital vulnerability and the rise of spiritual scams in China

“It is a way for me to seek meaning in this absurd world": Digital vulnerability and the rise of spiritual scams in China

July 18, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

This episode explores the rise of digital spirituality and the associated scams in China, driven by cultural vulnerabilities and moral crises.

Across China and the Chinese diaspora, digital spirituality is growing as users flock to online platforms seeking services to help with luck, love, and wealth. However, these spaces are also hotbeds for scammers, who prey on prey on loneliness, uncertainty, and cultural vulnerability to exploit hundreds if not thousands of people. In this episode, I do a deep dive to explore how post‑Mao moral crises, revived but fragmented spiritual practices, and China’s low‑trust social environment have cr...

People in this episode

Host: Edi Obiakpani

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: online platforms

Places: China, Chinese

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