Social Media in China: An Overview

Abstract

The world of apps is liking great success in the creative industries, especially the American apps have influenced the whole social media world. But in China the situation is completely different for two main reasons: firstly because some of the most popular Western apps are not accessible in China; secondly, because the app industry made in China is successful. Furthermore Chinese apps are indispensable for Chinese people who, for example, make purchases using Wechat and Alipay as it is almost impossible to pay cash. These features have quickly changed the way of life both of the young generation and adults as well. Through these apps everybody can access any service using simply a smartphone: for example it is possible to order a take a way in any restaurant using Ele.me and Baidu Waimai apps; ride a bike using an app such as Mobike or OFO; find your partner through Dating apps such as Tantan and Momo. This study is manly based on the researches carried out by Xinyuan (2016) and Elisabetta, Daniel, Haynes, McDonald, Nicolescu, Sinanan, Spyer, & Venkatraman (2016) and is made up of two parts: the first part describes the panorama of social media in China; the second part focuses on both the use of social media by some categories of the Chinese population and how their relationships and some aspects of their life in general are influenced by these new means of communication.