WeChat, aka Weixin 微信, is a free app launched by Tencent on January 21, 2011, providing instant messaging services for smartphones. WeChat is currently the most widely used social media platform in China.
Through the years WeChat has evolved into an all-in-one interactive platform, consisting of socializing, shopping, gaming, reading, entertainment, sports, and financial management. With over 1.2 billion active users, it is a comprehensive mobile communication app that has often been described as China’s “app for everything”.
Douyin
Douyin 抖音, TikTok’s original version and mainland Chinese counterpart, launched in 2016 and owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, is a popular social media platform for creating and sharing short videos. Douyin is the new trend for the young generation. Its slogan is “Record beautiful life.” It encourages users to express themselves by setting challenges, providing a rich music library, and offering video templates, all fostering a community of young people sharing 15-second music videos.
QQ, aka Tencent QQ 腾讯QQ, is a social messaging app aimed at providing users with a more convenient and professional social platform to meet various communication needs. QQ was launched by Tencent in 1999, initially offering traditional features such as text, voice, and video chatting, along with status updates on Qzone. It has now evolved into a multi-platform instant messaging software that integrates online gaming, file sharing, cloud storage, email, and forums.
Weibo 微博 is a microblogging platform developed by Sina. Unlike other social media apps, it offers a diverse range of content from celebrities. Introduced by Sina in 2009, Weibo is China’s largest public information platform, focusing on interest-based social networking. Users engage in social activities such as following, liking, commenting, and sharing links, videos, music, and blog posts based on their interests. With the presence of celebrities, influencers, and media content, Weibo has become a major hub for entertainment-related discussions, official news releases and gossip.
Kuaishou
Kuaishou 快手, originally known as “GIF Kuaishou” back in 2011, was designed as a mobile app for creating and sharing GIF images. In November 2012, Kuaishou transitioned from a simple tool app to a short video community, serving as a platform for users to record and share their daily lives and productions. It gained popularity after 2015. Additionally, Kuaishou Speed Edition is a social platform where users can make and share short videos to earn cash rewards.
Bilibili
Bilibili 哔哩哔哩, aka B Site B站, is a popular video-sharing platform, especially for anime enthusiasts. It was founded in 2009 by Internet user Xu Yi (known as “⑨bishi”). Bilibili focuses on sharing online videos related to ACG (anime, comic, and gaming) content. It has become the largest online community for young people who are interested in pop culture and entertainment in China. Its most distinctive feature is the real-time commenting system, known as “danmu”. Many popular Internet slang terms and trends originated from Bilibili.
Zhihu
Zhihu 知乎 is an online content community that focuses on social interaction through asking and answering questions. It was launched in 2011 by Beijing Zhizhe Tianxia Technology Co., Ltd. Zhihu serves as a comprehensive platform for exchanging knowledge, including features like question-and-answer sessions, sharing high-quality answers, and hosting book clubs for quality discussions (listening, reading, and discussing books).
Baidu Tieba
Tieba, aka Baidu Tieba 百度贴吧, established on December 3, 2003 by the Chinese technology company Baidu, is a leading Chinese online forum that integrates Baidu’s search engine. Tieba’s slogan is “Born for your interest”. As a keyword-based platform, Tieba has over 1.5 billion registered users and 23,254,173 communities as of June 6, 2021.
Xiaohongshu
Xiaohongshu 小红书, or “Little Red Book,” is an online shopping and social media platform. It was founded in June 2013 and is sometimes referred to as “Chinese Instagram”. Xiaohongshu’s specialized cosmetics search function has successfully launched on the retail market, and it creates a sense of authentic travel experiences through user-generated content and word-of-mouth. Xiaohongshu sponsors numerous online and television programs, contributing to its user and content growth.
Douban
Douban 豆瓣 is an online community-centered database and social networking service that was launched on March 6, 2005. Douban is best known for its ratings and reviews. It also provides recommendations and price comparisons for books, movies, and music albums, as well as cultural activities in cities. Douban has become the preferred social network for intellectuals in China.
