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| Yu Menglong’s Douyin Account Appears Hidden to Non-Followers (Photo: China.com) |
Fans of Chinese actor Alan Yu (Yu Menglong) were left puzzled this week after discovering that his Douyin account has quietly disappeared from the platform’s search results. According to multiple internet users, the profile can no longer be found by searching his name or his account ID, regardless of how precise the keywords are.
For those who don’t already follow him, the only way to open the page now is by scanning a shared profile QR code — which is hardly the usual route for checking a celebrity’s updates.
A local media outlet ran a test on the evening of 25 November and confirmed the situation: the account is completely absent from search.
Yet, once the QR code is scanned, the profile loads normally and remains accessible.
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Interestingly, the comment section on Yu Menglong’s videos has also been tightened.
Only mutual followers can post replies, though likes, saves, and shares are still available for everyone.
When contacted for clarification, Douyin’s customer service stated that the platform doesn’t interfere with or deactivate user accounts due to life events.
Instead, the visibility issue is more likely linked to the account’s own privacy settings, which may have been adjusted to limit who can find it through search.
In other words, non-followers simply won’t see the profile unless they already have it saved or receive the QR code directly.
The platform added that it would log the situation and look into the specific settings on Yu Menglong’s account.
As of 9pm on 25 November, Yu Menglong’s Douyin page still showed an impressive following of around 3.25 million users — a number that reflects years of consistent engagement.
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Earlier this year, reports confirmed that Yu Menglong passed away on 11 September 2025.
Days later, his mother released a public statement urging people to stay calm, avoid unnecessary speculation, and respect the family’s quiet handling of the matter.
With the recent visibility change on Douyin, fans have been expressing a mix of concern and curiosity, though it appears the situation is tied to privacy preferences rather than anything platform-related.
If there are updates from Douyin or changes to the account’s visibility, we’ll keep an eye on it.