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. Apple Removes Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads Services From China App Store
Apple has removed two of Meta Platforms’ popular apps, messaging service WhatsApp and social network Threads, from its mainland China App Store as part of the US technology giant’s efforts to comply with the country’s tightened internet regulations.
All traces of WhatsApp – the world’s most popular messaging app, with more than 2 billion monthly active users in 2023 – and Threads, which has soared in popularity on the mainland since its launch last July, are now gone from the domestic App Store. Chinese regulatory authorities had ordered the removal of those two apps over national security concerns, according to Apple.
2. Alibaba’s Taobao Launches 3D-Capable App for Use on Apple’s Vision Pro Headset
Alibaba Group Holding’s Taobao, China’s largest online marketplace, has launched a new shopping app with three-dimensional functions designed for the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, as mainland consumers await the domestic release of Apple’s latest product.
The app was rolled out for use on the US$3,499 mixed-reality headset, which the US tech giant released in February in the United States, the only market where the wearable device is currently available. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has said that the Vision Pro is expected to be available in China this year. Some mainland Vision Pro users, who were able to buy the headset in the US, shared their experiences of using Taobao’s new 3D-capable app on Chinese social media, giving positive feedback on the domestic Alibaba e-commerce platform’s updated product display capabilities.
3. JD.Com Founder’s Avatar Debuts As Host of Live-Streaming Sessions in AI Push
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is ratcheting up the use of artificial intelligence (AI) on its platform, as the avatar of founder and chairman Richard Liu Qiangdong debuted as host of two live-streaming sessions.
Liu’s avatar, powered by JD.com’s own ChatRhino large language model (LLM), not only succeeded in replicating the company founder’s appearance, voice, and accent, but also his known habit of waving his hands as he speaks. LLM is the technology used to train generative AI services like ChatGPT.
The virtual Liu, however, mostly read from a prepared script and did not interact or answer questions from the online audience. Still, the inaugural live-streaming sessions hosted by Liu’s avatar were a success, as the two campaigns – each lasting less than an hour to promote consumer electronics devices and groceries – generated more than 20 million views combined.
4. TikTok Launches STEM Content Competition to Encourage Education
Coinciding with Earth Day (April 22nd), TikTok has announced a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) content competition in the app, which is designed to give parents and students the chance to showcase their knowledge of STEM-related topics.
Users will be able to participate in TikTok’s STEM challenge by submitting their own STEM communication video to TikTok’s STEM feed, by using the hashtag #STEMTok. There are no specific parameters, with TikTok’s judging panel deciding the winners based on the noted requirements in the clip, as well as overall entertainment value. The chosen winners will take home a Google Pixel device.
5. TikTok Announces Ticket Sales Partnership With AXS
TikTok has announced a new partnership with ticket-seller AXS, enabling TikTok users to purchase tickets to upcoming events in-stream. It will also provide more options for artists looking to promote their shows.
The new AXS integration will allow TikTok users to tap through to get more information about an upcoming event in the app. You’ll then be able to connect to the AXS website to make a ticket purchase. While it’s not directly integrated into TikTok, it’s a more streamlined means to purchase tickets from promotions in the app.
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.