In 2022, there were around 1.02 billion social media users in China. Despite Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter being blocked in the country, local social networking sites such as WeChat and Weibo have been attracting millions of users, making China the world’s biggest social media market.
What is the role of social media in China?
Around 74 percent of the Chinese population use internet. Social networking plays a huge role among netizens, especially the younger generation. Chinese social media, just like Western equivalents, not only serves as a way to communicate online, but also as one of the main sources of news and entertainment, e-payments, shopping advisors, and dating channels. In 2021, over 40 percent of surveyed social media users said they mostly appreciated that social networks help them to keep in touch with friends and family, but also share their life moments and thoughts.
What are the most popular social media platforms?
WeChat (Weixin in Chinese) is by far the most commonly seen social app in the country, used for anything from texting/calling to photo and video sharing, dating, financial services, game-playing, shopping, ride hailing, and so on. However, Chinese social media scene is quite diverse and dynamic, therefore, it is not just about WeChat. Instant messaging app Tencent QQ, microblogging site Weibo, video sharing app Youku Tudou, short-form video app Douyin (aka TikTok), photo editing and sharing app Meitu, restaurant recommendation and food ordering platform Meituan, Quora equivalent Zhihu, and dating app Momo are just a few among the most popular Chinese social media examples.
Number of social media users in China from 2018 to 2022 with forecasts until 2027
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Statista. (June 15, 2022). Number of social media users in China from 2018 to 2022 with forecasts until 2027 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/277586/number-of-social-network-users-in-china/
Statista. "Number of social media users in China from 2018 to 2022 with forecasts until 2027 (in millions)." Chart. June 15, 2022. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/277586/number-of-social-network-users-in-china/
Statista. (2022). Number of social media users in China from 2018 to 2022 with forecasts until 2027 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/277586/number-of-social-network-users-in-china/
Statista. "Number of Social Media Users in China from 2018 to 2022 with Forecasts until 2027 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Jun 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/277586/number-of-social-network-users-in-china/
Statista, Number of social media users in China from 2018 to 2022 with forecasts until 2027 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/277586/number-of-social-network-users-in-china/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Number of social media users in China from 2018 to 2022 with forecasts until 2027 (in millions) [Graph], Statista, June 15, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/277586/number-of-social-network-users-in-china/