China's Hainan province was hit by Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm in Asia this year, on September 6. With wind speeds reaching 234 km/h, the typhoon brought heavy rains and left widespread destruction. Power outages have created significant difficulties for residents, sparking a viral conversation on social media about the challenges of living in a cashless society. Many find themselves unable to conduct transactions without access to mobile devices.
The video, shared on social media platform X, shows residents crowding around a makeshift charging station, where a vendor has set up an engine-powered system to help people recharge their phones. The caption emphasised the severity of the situation: "After the typhoon, water and electricity were cut off. People desperately want to charge their phones, as all their money is stored in mobile wallets. Without a phone, you can't even buy bread."
The video has sparked conversations about the potential vulnerabilities of a fully cashless society, particularly in times of crisis.
In a separate video, concerns over the reliance on electric vehicles were raised. It showed residents rushing to charging stations as their vehicles ran out of power. The post pointed out that only those with a social credit score of 550 or above can recharge using WeChat, China's primary digital wallet.
The videos also highlighted another aspect of China's digital economy: digital currency with expiration dates. Users must spend their money within a set timeframe or risk losing access to it. Moreover, accounts can be frozen based on social credit scores, further restricting access to funds. The posts referenced previous instances during the Covid-19 pandemic when citizens were prevented from using digital payments if their vaccination passports expired, cutting off access to essential services.
