China-based fast-fashion clothing line Shein has long been a central topic of discourse on TikTok, with many criticizing the company for churning out cheap clothing at an exhaustive pace. Now, the discussion around Shein has reached a fever pitch, thanks to a conspiracy theory on TikTok that claims its workers are slipping notes asking for help in their packages.
According to these videos, some of which have garnered millions of views, Shein employees have been surreptitiously writing “I need your help” or “help me” on their product labels. The “evidence” cited in some of these videos is a label that reads: “Do not dry clean due to water saving technology, I need your help to wash with mild detergent the first time”, which appears to be a mistranslation of cleaning instructions. by the garment, but which people characterize as a hidden secret message from Shein employees forced to work for the company against their will.
In addition, since last May a viral compilation video circulating on TikTok with almost 6.6 million likes, which includes images of other types of messages that people have supposedly found in clothing packages, from a “help me” message on a receipt, up to a note. that says “I have a toothache”.
However, the urban legend debunking site Snopes found that there is no evidence that most of the tags that appear on these images are real; and the ones that are are from viral news about other companies, not Shein. The “Help me” on the receipt, for example, was for an item sold by the Chinese brand Romwe, and the receipt was for a product called a “Help me” bookmark; in other words, it wasn’t a hidden message, it was the name of the product itself. However, the conspiracy theories have gotten so out of hand that the company issued a statement about it earlier this month, posting a video saying, “Shein takes supply chain matters seriously. Our strict Code of Conduct includes policies against child and forced labor and we do not tolerate non-compliance.”
@realmiyahchanel
SHEIN, what’s going on? #for you #shein
♬ original sound – Miyah Chanel 🧚🏽♀️
TikTok itself is no stranger to harboring rumors of human trafficking on the platform. Most famously, the Wayfair trafficking conspiracy, in which people baselessly claimed the furniture dealer was using shipping containers to smuggle slaves, took root on TikTok; Other rumors, such as the idea that traffickers are using abandoned car seats to recruit single mothers as victims, have also gained traction on the platform. As Rolling Stone previously reported, the popularity of such content can be largely attributed to TikTok’s algorithm, which prioritizes highly engaging emotional content without verifying the information contained within.
@shein_oficial
Recently, several videos have been posted on TikTok containing misleading and false information about SHEIN. We want to make it very clear that we take supply chain issues very seriously. Our strict Code of Conduct prohibits suppliers from using child or forced labor and we do not tolerate non-compliance.
♬ original sound – SHEIN
To be clear, it is fairly well known that fast fashion brands like Shein often produce clothes in the best working conditions, and there is ample evidence to suggest that Shein has made a habit of violating labor laws. As Business of Fashion reported last year, an investigation by a Swiss watchdog group found that in some Shein partner factories, employees worked 12-14 hour days and often worked 28 days a month in unbelievably poor conditions. Unsafe, like rooms without windows with no fire. Shein said in response to this report that “takes all supply chain issues seriously” and would launch an investigation of the manufacturers in question. However, despite this documented history of poor working conditions, tThere is no evidence that Shein is enslaving people against their will or forcing employees to work there.
This week on Don’t Let This Flop, Rolling Stone’s internet culture podcast, co-hosts Brittany Spanos and Ej Dickson discuss Shein’s trafficking conspiracy theories, as well as Love Island, the rise of Feral Girl Summer, the “healthy Coke” trend and whether Nick Cannon has a fetish for mass insemination.
Source: www.rollingstone.com