In modern China, 爆料 is a cornerstone of digital culture, especially on platforms like Weibo. It's a double-edged sword, used for both social justice and pure entertainment. On one hand, 爆料 can be a form of grassroots journalism or whistleblowing. A brave individual might 爆料 a company's unsafe practices or a public official's corruption, leveraging social media to bypass traditional channels and create public pressure. On the other, and far more common, side, 爆料 is the engine of the entertainment and gossip industry. A single anonymous post claiming to 爆料 a celebrity's secret affair can dominate online discussions for days, leading to a massive public relations crisis or a surge in popularity. This is where the term most closely aligns with the Western slang “spilling the tea” or “dishing the dirt.” The key difference from a simple “leak” or “report” in English is the inherent drama and explosive nature implied by 爆. A leak can be quiet; a report can be formal. A 爆料 is designed to be loud, chaotic, and to capture maximum public attention immediately. It's information weaponized for impact.
爆料 is used across various levels of formality, but it almost always carries a sense of drama.
The connotation of 爆料 is generally neutral to negative, as it often involves revealing something someone else wanted to keep hidden, typically because it's embarrassing or illicit.