TikTok in China: What You Need to Know
TikTok has become a global sensation with its short-form video content, catchy music, and viral challenges. But what about China, where the app’s parent company, ByteDance, is headquartered? Is TikTok even available there, and if so, how does it differ from the version that users in other countries know and love?
First, it’s important to note that TikTok is unavailable in China. Instead, ByteDance operates a similar app called Douyin, which has over 600 million daily active users. Douyin shares many of the same features with TikTok, such as creating and sharing short-form videos, but it operates under different content guidelines and has a different user base.
One of the critical differences between Douyin and TikTok is the way that content is moderated. In China, the government heavily regulates internet content and censors information it deems inappropriate or politically sensitive. This means that content on Douyin is subject to strict guidelines and censorship, which can limit the type of content that users can create and share.
For example, political content, including any criticism of the Chinese government or references to sensitive topics such as Tibet or the Tiananmen Square protests, is strictly prohibited. Additionally, content that is deemed to be vulgar or offensive, including sexually explicit or violent content, is also banned.
Douyin employs a team of content moderators to enforce these guidelines to review all content posted on the app. This team is responsible for identifying and removing any content that violates the app’s community guidelines or Chinese laws. Douyin also uses artificial intelligence technology to detect and remove prohibited content automatically.
Another difference between Douyin and TikTok is the user base. While TikTok has a global audience, Douyin is primarily used by Chinese users. This means that the content on Douyin reflects the interests and preferences of Chinese users, such as popular music, celebrities, and trends.
Douyin’s popularity in China has made it a powerful platform for entertainment and advertising, with brands and influencers using the app to reach a massive audience. For example, in 2020, Douyin launched a live-streaming feature that allowed users to monetize their content by receiving gifts from fans. This feature proved hugely popular, with some users earning millions of yuan from their live streams.
Despite the success of Douyin in China, the app’s strict content guidelines have led to some controversy. In 2018, Douyin was temporarily banned by the government for failing to regulate content deemed vulgar or harmful to minors. The ban was lifted after Douyin implemented stricter content moderation measures.
In conclusion, while TikTok may not be available in China, Douyin has become a major player in the Chinese internet landscape. The app’s success shows the power of short-form video content and the potential for social media platforms to become dominant forms of media. However, the differences between Douyin and TikTok highlight the challenges of operating in different markets with varying regulations and cultural norms. In addition, the strict content guidelines and censorship in China can limit the types of content users create and share. However, Douyin’s popularity shows that there is still a massive demand for short-form video content in China.
