China Digital Digest Weekly: Exploring the Chinese Digital Landscape
- ClickInsights
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
Hi folks, we are back with our weekly edition of China’s Digital Digest, wherein we bring you weekly updates on China’s digital space. The report takes a quick glance at China’s complex and rapidly evolving social media landscape by providing updates on the latest happenings across the social media industry. Here are the major highlights of the report.
1. TikTok Urgently Pitches Canada Security Solution to Avoid Shutdown
TikTok is trying to talk to Canada about security solutions that would spare the popular video app from a looming order to shut down operations in the country.
So far, its pleas have fallen on deaf ears, said Steve de Eyre, director of TikTok’s government affairs for Canada, in an interview. This month, TikTok started to freeze spending on cultural programmes and sponsorships following a November directive to close its Canadian unit, which cited national security concerns. TikTok would still be available on app stores for Canadians to use after the shutdown.
2. EU Watchdog Opens TikTok Probe Over Fresh China Data Transfer Claims
An Irish regulator helping police European Union data privacy HAS said it had launched an investigation into TikTok over the transfer of European users’ personal data to servers in China.
TikTok was fined €530 million (US$620 million) in May by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) for sending personal data to China, though the Chinese social media giant had insisted this data was only accessed remotely. The DPC said it had been informed by TikTok in April that “limited EEA user data had in fact been stored on servers in China”, then deleted, contrary to evidence previously presented by the company.
3. Manus AI Lays Off China Staff, Scrubs Social Media, Shelves Mainland Service
The company behind the general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) agent Manus has laid off most of its staff in Beijing, according to local media reports, amid a reorganisation in line with relocating its headquarters to Singapore.
Manus AI has also scrubbed all of its content on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and RedNote. Logging in returns this message: “Manus is not available in your region.” That marked a change from the earlier message that said its “Chinese version is under development”. Manus did not explain its rationale for pulling out of China. In an earlier statement, Manus said the move to Singapore was not about gaining access to Nvidia’s advanced chips because it was not developing AI models.
4. China Rolls Out ‘Voluntary’ Cyber ID Amid Concerns Over Privacy, Censorship
China has officially introduced a controversial national cyber ID system, despite concerns from some experts and netizens over privacy and censorship.
The system aims to “protect the security of citizens’ identity information”, and is backed by the Ministry of Public Security, the Cyberspace Administration of China, and four other authorities. The app, whose beta version was launched last year, issues an encrypted virtual ID composed of random letters and digits so the person’s real name and ID number are not given to websites when verifying accounts. So far, it is not-mandatory for internet users to apply for the cyber ID.
5. Temu’s Monthly Active Users Hit 416.5 Million
Temu has quickly become a standout in cross-border e-commerce. As of Q2 2025, its global monthly active users (MAU) hit 416.5 million—a 68% year-over-year increase. That’s roughly one in every 18 people worldwide using the platform.
Growth varies by region, but overall momentum remains strong. In the EU, MAU jumped 74% year-over-year, now accounting for 34% of Temu’s global user base. Sensor Tower data shows user growth this June reached 76% in France, 71% in Spain, and 64% in Germany. Only the U.S. tells a different story. Temu’s user base there shrank 28% year-over-year, largely due to rising trade tensions. In response, the company is shifting its focus to less volatile markets in search of new growth and lower risk.
6. Alibaba’s ‘Super Saturdays’ Event To Heat Up China’s On-Demand Delivery Market
Alibaba Group Holding will roll out a programme called “Super Saturdays” over the next 100 days to lure more consumers to its platform, while escalating a price war against Meituan and JD.com in the mainland’s on-demand delivery services market.
Under Alibaba’s instant commerce brand Taobao Shangou, “Super Saturdays” would offer consumers up to 188 yuan (US$26) in subsidies for the purchase and delivery of low-cost goods such as milk tea and breakfast meals, according to a report by state-owned financial newspaper Securities Times. Details of the initiative were still subject to change, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.
7. Alibaba Delivers 80 Million Orders In 1 Day Amid Price War
Alibaba Group Holding tied its own record of 80 million on-demand deliveries on 12th July, the e-commerce giant reported, as it wages an all-out battle against rivals Meituan and JD.com in China’s quick-delivery market – with freebies and eye-popping discounts as the ammunition.
Alibaba’s new instant commerce brand Taobao Shangou said its daily active users last week jumped 15 percent from the previous week, which would put the number at around 230 million, though the company did not specify the total. The firm also hit 80 million deliveries on July 5.
8. Meituan’s Daily Orders Hit Record 150 Million
Meituan, mainland China’s top on-demand delivery giant, said that daily orders on its platform have surged to another all-time high – a sign that the company has managed to fend off competition from rivals like JD.com and Alibaba Group Holding.
The Beijing-based company said daily transactions had reached 150 million, just days after surpassing 120 million. The firm’s record daily orders for both food and retail goods delivery comes at a time when major Chinese e-commerce players are investing heavily to boost transaction volumes in the instant delivery market.
Wrapping Up
The vast and diverse nature of the Chinese Social Media space makes it incredibly challenging to keep a tab on the rapid developments taking place. However, China’s Digital Digest brings you all the latest updates from there to keep you abreast of all the evolving trends.
To delve deeper into the findings of our latest report, click here.
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Interesting read! TikTok's in a pickle, and Temu's growth is wild. That AI company pulling out of China? Wonder what really happened. It's like watching a ragdoll hit every branch on the way down. Makes you think!
Wow, lots happening in China's digital world! From TikTok drama to Temu's crazy growth, it's all over the place. Makes you wonder what's next, maybe AI-powered motorcycle games will be the next big thing?