Social media in China: Weibo

Weibo is a popular Chinese social media platform similar to Twitter. It was launched in 2009 by Chinese technology company Sina Corporation and has grown to become one of the largest social media platforms in China.

Weibo is a microblogging application that shares, disseminates and accesses information based on user relationships. It allows users to post text messages, photos and videos, which can be viewed and shared by their followers. The platform also offers various interactive features such as live streaming, polls and quizzes that allow users to interact with their followers and other users on the platform.

Weibo has become a popular platform for social media influencers, celebrities and brands in China, who use the platform to promote their products and services and interact with their fans and followers. Weibo also plays an important role in the dissemination of news and information in China, with many journalists and media organizations using the platform to share news and updates.

In April 2019, the National Library of China announced that it would archive all public posts on Weibo for non-commercial use, demonstrating the importance of social media platforms. The move will have far-reaching implications for the preservation of digital heritage, with over 200 billion text posts and 50 billion images expected to be stored, as well as data relating to the sentiment behind these posts.

In March 2023, Weibo had 593 million monthly active users, an increase of 11 million over the same period last year.