'Sugar daddy' website riles China, official website blocked on WeChat
Chinese agencies have stepped up clampdown on a US 'dating site' called SeekingArrangement. In the latest move, social media app WeChat has blocked its official website. The increased scrutiny comes after the app, launched in Beijing in October 2015, suddenly jumped 765 places to become the top downloaded app on China's iOS App Store. China insists the app is a front for prostitution.
SA was founded by an MIT graduate
SeekingArrangement, or SA, was founded by MIT graduate Brandon Wade in 2006. Technically, it provides pay-to-play relationships, generally between wealthy old men and beautiful young women. According to its website, it has more than 10mn active users globally.
What are 'sugar daddies/mommies' and 'sugar babies'?
SA claims it provides "Relationships on Your Terms"- matching 'Sugar Daddies/Mommies' with 'Sugar Babies.' 'Sugar Daddies/Mommies, according to SA, are "successful men and women who...enjoy attractive company. Money isn't an issue, thus they are generous." On the other side are 'Sugar Babies,' who are "attractive people looking for finer things in life. Sugar Babies get to...meet wealthy people on a regular basis."
'Love is a concept invented by poor-people: SA-founder Brandon Wade
In China, which has a conservative approach towards sex, SA has renamed 'Sugar Daddies/Mommas' as "successful people," and 'Sugar Babies' as "charming sweethearts." It said it aims to build a "high-end marriage and love social-platform" in Beijing. Male members are required to specify annual-income starting $47,350 and net-assets from $93,920. Ironically, founder Brandon Wade once said, "Love is a concept invented by poor people."
SA has risen drastically and surprisingly in Beijing
It's unclear what led to SA's sudden popularity earlier this week, especially considering Beijing's tendency to ban anything remotely sexual online. Tinder is banned in China, and so are Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. But "sugar dating," also called "compensated dating," has increased in visibility in mainstream media in recent times as some older persons and minors were arrested for alleged prostitution.
Such apps can be classified as organizing prostitution, says lawyer
In the recent clampdown, Yufa Information Technology, the firm supervising SA's China business and its WeChat account, has been added to an official list of companies with "abnormal businesses." More trouble is likely for it, said criminal lawyer Yi Shenghua, who explains such apps can be classified as organizing or sheltering prostitution. However, the app was still available in Chinese stores Friday, Reuters reports.
'We only target men of high quality and fine taste'
SA insists that its Chinese product has been "exclusively developed for the local market and would definitely abide by the law here." In fact, it is like any other dating website, an employee said, except it targets "successful men of high quality and fine taste."
