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| 2.23 Million Followers and Counting: Zhao Liying’s Son Unexpectedly Trends Online (Photo: Weibo) |
Zanilia Zhao (Zhao Liying) is trending again, but this time it has nothing to do with a new drama or film release. Instead, the spotlight has shifted to her seven-year-old son after netizens discovered that he has his own Weibo Super Topic community — and it has already surpassed 2.23 million followers.
According to platform data, the Super Topic has gathered over 2.25 million followers with more than 250,000 posts published so far. The numbers alone are enough to rival some active young celebrities. What makes it even more surprising is that the child has never had an official social media account, has never appeared publicly in digital spaces, and has no confirmed front-facing photos online.
The Super Topic was reportedly created independently by fans.
Rather than sharing personal details, most of the content focuses on parenting discussions, children’s drawings, well-wishes for healthy growth, and general conversations about family life.
Members affectionately refer to themselves as “aunties” and “uncles”, building what they describe as a “fandom inheritance” culture — almost like passing idol loyalty down to the next generation.
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| Zhao Liying’s Son Becomes “Invisible Top Star” as Super Topic Surges Past 2 Million — Weibo |
Despite Zhao Liying never interacting with or promoting the community, engagement inside the Super Topic remains high. On some days, interactions have exceeded 590 posts within 24 hours. It has also consistently ranked at the top of the parenting category on the platform.
However, not everyone is comfortable with the trend.
Some netizens questioned whether it makes sense for a child who has never appeared publicly to accumulate millions of followers.
A few online commentators joked that the fandom culture felt exaggerated, with playful yet controversial nicknames like “young master” appearing in comment sections. To outsiders, the situation felt unusual — raising questions about where fan enthusiasm should draw the line.
Others pointed out what they see as a contradiction. Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng have previously spoken about protecting their child’s privacy.
Yet now, the child’s name is trending and associated with significant online traffic. Critics argue that promoting privacy while allowing such a large-scale fan culture to develop creates confusion.
Supporters counter that the community is fan-driven and does not involve the release of private information, making it harmless.
The discussion quickly escalated into wider fandom tensions. Some Zhao Liying fans suggested external forces were stirring controversy to divert attention, even mentioning Yang Mi amid recent online debates surrounding industry events.
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On the other hand, many observers dismissed this as unnecessary fan rivalry, saying the situation does not require dragging other celebrities into the conversation.
Beyond the surface-level fan disputes, the incident reflects a bigger picture in the entertainment industry. In a competitive market where attention is currency, even indirect associations can generate buzz.
With intense competition among the so-called “85-generation” actresses and increasing pressure to secure strong projects, public discussion often extends beyond actual works to peripheral topics.
For some netizens, the Super Topic is simply a reflection of loyal fandom culture evolving over time. For others, it symbolises how celebrity influence can spill into unexpected areas.
The divide in reactions highlights how complex online fan communities have become — balancing admiration, boundaries, and digital engagement all at once.
At the end of the day, a 2.23 million-follower community built around a child who has never stepped into the spotlight is bound to raise eyebrows.
What do you think — is this simply modern fandom evolving, or does it cross an invisible line?