Cross-platform, cross-border: How Chinese Wanghuang create opportunity spaces

David Yuen Tung CHAN; Huimin DU; Chun YANG

doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104482

Cross-platform, cross-border: How Chinese Wanghuang create opportunity spaces

David Yuen Tung CHAN^*
, Huimin DU
, Chun YANG

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Graduate Studies

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

This study addresses a critical research gap in digital platform studies by investigating the experiences of cloud workers in non-Western contexts. Through observation and interviews with Shenzhen-based wanghuang (sex-fluencer), we extend the “platform ecology” framework to analyse how individuals perceive and act upon opportunities and risks embedded within both digital platforms and physical environments. Our findings reveal that wanghuang employ multi-dimensional strategies across digital and physical spaces to construct their opportunity spaces while managing platform and institutional constraints as well as legal risks. These strategies include place-based branding, multi-homing across platforms, fan dating, and cross-border mobility. The study demonstrates how cross-border mobility serves as a form of ‘geographical arbitrage’, leveraging spatial differences of technical and institutional environments and also the broader socio-economic conditions to minimise risk and maximise opportunities. This research advances platform studies by highlighting the importance of offline spaces and local contexts in understanding platform ecologies, while offering valuable insights into China’s digital sex industry.

Original language	English
Article number	104482
Number of pages	9
Journal	Geoforum
Volume	168
Early online date	21 Nov 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104482
Publication status	Published - Jan 2026

Bibliographical note

We thank Han Chu, Robert Hassink, and Matthew Zook for organising this Special Issue and Allan Watson for handling this paper. The constructive comments from Robert Hassink, as well as two reviewers, were very useful. The first author also thanks June Wang for her inspiration to begin this research. Of course, we are grateful to all the interviewees who contributed to this research and to the help of the research assistants. All errors and shortcomings are our own.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Funding

The research for this work is supported by Lingnan University [DG (DR24E3) & DG (DR24E4)].

Keywords

Platform ecology
Digital sex worker
Opportunity space
Cross-border mobility
China

Access to Document

10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104482

Cite this

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title = "Cross-platform, cross-border: How Chinese Wanghuang create opportunity spaces",

abstract = "This study addresses a critical research gap in digital platform studies by investigating the experiences of cloud workers in non-Western contexts. Through observation and interviews with Shenzhen-based wanghuang (sex-fluencer), we extend the “platform ecology” framework to analyse how individuals perceive and act upon opportunities and risks embedded within both digital platforms and physical environments. Our findings reveal that wanghuang employ multi-dimensional strategies across digital and physical spaces to construct their opportunity spaces while managing platform and institutional constraints as well as legal risks. These strategies include place-based branding, multi-homing across platforms, fan dating, and cross-border mobility. The study demonstrates how cross-border mobility serves as a form of {\textquoteleft}geographical arbitrage{\textquoteright}, leveraging spatial differences of technical and institutional environments and also the broader socio-economic conditions to minimise risk and maximise opportunities. This research advances platform studies by highlighting the importance of offline spaces and local contexts in understanding platform ecologies, while offering valuable insights into China{\textquoteright}s digital sex industry.",

keywords = "Platform ecology, Digital sex worker, Opportunity space, Cross-border mobility, China",

author = "CHAN, \{David Yuen Tung\} and Huimin DU and Chun YANG",

note = "We thank Han Chu, Robert Hassink, and Matthew Zook for organising this Special Issue and Allan Watson for handling this paper. The constructive comments from Robert Hassink, as well as two reviewers, were very useful. The first author also thanks June Wang for her inspiration to begin this research. Of course, we are grateful to all the interviewees who contributed to this research and to the help of the research assistants. All errors and shortcomings are our own. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104482",

language = "English",

volume = "168",

journal = "Geoforum",

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AU - CHAN, David Yuen Tung

AU - DU, Huimin

AU - YANG, Chun

N1 - We thank Han Chu, Robert Hassink, and Matthew Zook for organising this Special Issue and Allan Watson for handling this paper. The constructive comments from Robert Hassink, as well as two reviewers, were very useful. The first author also thanks June Wang for her inspiration to begin this research. Of course, we are grateful to all the interviewees who contributed to this research and to the help of the research assistants. All errors and shortcomings are our own. Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2026/1

Y1 - 2026/1

N2 - This study addresses a critical research gap in digital platform studies by investigating the experiences of cloud workers in non-Western contexts. Through observation and interviews with Shenzhen-based wanghuang (sex-fluencer), we extend the “platform ecology” framework to analyse how individuals perceive and act upon opportunities and risks embedded within both digital platforms and physical environments. Our findings reveal that wanghuang employ multi-dimensional strategies across digital and physical spaces to construct their opportunity spaces while managing platform and institutional constraints as well as legal risks. These strategies include place-based branding, multi-homing across platforms, fan dating, and cross-border mobility. The study demonstrates how cross-border mobility serves as a form of ‘geographical arbitrage’, leveraging spatial differences of technical and institutional environments and also the broader socio-economic conditions to minimise risk and maximise opportunities. This research advances platform studies by highlighting the importance of offline spaces and local contexts in understanding platform ecologies, while offering valuable insights into China’s digital sex industry.

AB - This study addresses a critical research gap in digital platform studies by investigating the experiences of cloud workers in non-Western contexts. Through observation and interviews with Shenzhen-based wanghuang (sex-fluencer), we extend the “platform ecology” framework to analyse how individuals perceive and act upon opportunities and risks embedded within both digital platforms and physical environments. Our findings reveal that wanghuang employ multi-dimensional strategies across digital and physical spaces to construct their opportunity spaces while managing platform and institutional constraints as well as legal risks. These strategies include place-based branding, multi-homing across platforms, fan dating, and cross-border mobility. The study demonstrates how cross-border mobility serves as a form of ‘geographical arbitrage’, leveraging spatial differences of technical and institutional environments and also the broader socio-economic conditions to minimise risk and maximise opportunities. This research advances platform studies by highlighting the importance of offline spaces and local contexts in understanding platform ecologies, while offering valuable insights into China’s digital sex industry.

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KW - Digital sex worker

KW - Opportunity space

KW - Cross-border mobility

KW - China

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U2 - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104482

DO - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104482

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

SN - 0016-7185

VL - 168

JO - Geoforum

JF - Geoforum

M1 - 104482

ER -

Cross-platform, cross-border: How Chinese Wanghuang create opportunity spaces

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

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Cross-platform, cross-border: How Chinese Wanghuang create opportunity spaces

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Navigating belonging: lived experiences of migrants in urban China

Production Reconfiguration of Digital Cultural and Creative Industries: A Study in China's Greater Bay Area

Cite this