Rachel Meets China Instagram Wrongly Labeled “State-Controlled Media”

I would like to address the ‘China State-Controlled Media’ label that was wrongly applied to my Instagram account, Rachel Meets China. In this article, I will provide background on my accounts, explain the origins of my content, and detail the appeal process I have undertaken to correct this error.

Addressing the “State Controlled Media Label” on my Instagram Account

In the summer of 2021, my personal Instagram account was wrongly labeled as “China State-Controlled Media.” This occurred during a time when Facebook and Instagram were making a significant push to label accounts associated with Chinese and Russian media organizations. While I understand the importance of such initiatives for media organizations, it was incredibly frustrating for me as a personal creator to be mislabeled in this way.

Rachel Meets China is my 100% independently owned and operated personal blog and social media account. It is the result of over nine years of hard work, and it represents my voice, my experiences, and my brand. Everything I choose to post is my own decision.

For those who have been following me for a long time, you know that this account has always been about sharing my personal experiences with travel and culture in China. I started Rachel Meets China when I first moved to China as an English teacher, and I have continued to grow this platform while remaining true to my own voice and values.

Background about my account:

In 2015, after graduating with a degree in Media and Communications, I moved to Hengyang, Hunan, China, to teach English for what I thought would be just one year. During that time, I started my Rachel Meets China blog as a way to keep my friends and family updated on my life in China. What began as a simple blog soon became a passion, and I found myself enjoying not only teaching but also sharing my experiences online. It was at this time that I also changed my Instagram name, which I founded in 2012, from “@racheldub22” to “@rachelmeetschina” to match my website.

As I continued to live in China, I found a deep love for blogging and connecting with others who were interested in life here. My blog grew, and I learned about SEO, content creation, and the world of digital media. In 2017, I moved to Guangzhou for a year, and then to Beijing in 2018, where I began working in marketing for an education company. Rachel Meets China continued to grow, and I started collaborating with brands and creating content in the way most creators do.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the company I worked for shut down, and in early 2021, I joined China Plus, part of the CGTN culture team (China Global Television Network). My role there involves working as a video host and copy editor for their channels, hosting livestreams and travel videos around China.

However, I want to emphasize that my job with CGTN is entirely separate from my personal social media channels, which I have independently built over the years.

Since joining the China Plus team of CGTN in January 2021, I have been transparent about my role—I publicly list my job on LinkedIn and clearly label any brand collaborations on my Instagram. Transparency is something I deeply value, both with my employer and my audience. My account reflects my voice, my choices, and what I believe aligns authentically with my brand and platform.

Meta’s “State Controlled Media” Appeal Form

I have appealed to have this incorrect label removed, but the process has been challenging. Facebook’s appeal process asks for information that is impossible for me to provide as an individual creator—such as editorial guidelines, newsroom leadership, sources of funding, and shareholders. Rachel Meets China is a one-person operation. I run everything myself, from creating content to editing videos, with no external help. I’ve appealed multiple times, and even had chats with the Meta Team online, to no further help.

But for the sake of Facebook – I’ve listed these sections below.

Editorial Guidelines

As an independent content creator, my editorial guidelines are personally driven and based on my own experiences, interests, and values. I create content that aligns with my passion for sharing travel, culture, and lifestyle insights. There is no formal editorial process or team involved—it’s just me deciding what to post based on what I find interesting, valuable, and authentic to my brand.

Names and Titles of Newsroom Leadership and Staff

I, Rachel Weiss, am solely responsible for all content creation and management on my account and website. There is no newsroom, leadership team, or staff behind my work. Every post, video, and piece of content is created, edited, and published by me alone.

Sources of Funding

My personal content and website is funded entirely by myself, with occasional income from brand collaborations or partnerships, which are always transparently labeled. I do not receive any funding from external organizations, media outlets, or state entities for my personal work.

Shareholders and Board Members

As an independent creator, I have no shareholders or board members. Rachel Meets China is a personal brand and platform run exclusively by me. There is no corporate or organizational structure behind my account.

Thanks Your For Your Support

I appreciate all of you who have been following me, who know my content, and who trust in my authenticity. Your support means the world to me, and I will continue to be transparent in everything I do. Like any other content creator, if I do any brand deals or ads, I will always be upfront and share that information with you.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I’m grateful for your understanding and support as I work through this frustrating situation.

Warm regards,
Rachel

Disclaimer

Disclaimer:

Rachel Meets China is an independently owned and operated personal blog and social media account. All content shared on this platform, including Instagram and other social media channels, is created and posted solely by Rachel. This account is not affiliated with any organization, and all opinions, experiences, and views expressed are entirely Rachel’s own.

The “state media” label on Rachel’s Instagram account was incorrectly applied and does not accurately reflect the nature of her account. An appeal has been made to correct this error.

For any sponsored content or brand partnerships, Rachel Meets China will always provide full transparency in accordance with standard content creator practices.

Rachel Meets China