News You Might Have Missed: Social Media Edition

Max Wu | Mar 31, 2012 2:00 pm | Add a comment | 1659 reads

If you're not a weibo user yet, what's keeping you? (Besides navigating the Chinese interface and the new, pesky "real-name" registration issues?) Weibos (Chinese for "microblogs") continue to be one of the best places to get a grip on what Chinese Internet users are saying, thinking, eating, doing, you name it. We've kept you in the know with our Weibo Roundups (covering everything from boobs and underwear to Gary Locke, whistleblowing and even a 2011 year-in-review), and there's more where that came from. For now, read up on the latest news about Sina Weibo and other social media here in China.

Potato Polygamy

Tudou.com (“potato” in Chinese) married Youku.com – its biggest competitor – shortly after it shacked up with Sina Weibo. The sudden news left many wondering about the reason behind the big decision. Some even joked that Youku CEO Victor Koo asked his secretary to buy some potatoes and she ended up buying Tudou.com by mistake.

For us, the lucky users, this means having a Sina Weibo account is now all you need to post videos on Tudou.com or Youku.com. More proof, as if anybody needed it, that the power of Weibo is growing, whether we like it or not.

Real-name Registration

On March 16, Sina, Sohu, 163, Soufun and other Chinese microblog service providers instated real-name registration for Beijing users, meaning users now either need to include their ID number in their profile or tie their cell phone number to their account to continue enjoying features such as forwarding and commenting. The four types of IDs that are acceptable are: national ID, passport, student ID and military certificate. DigiCha reported that Sina Weibo signup rates slumped dramatically as this real-name registration deadline loomed. Their list of possible explanations:

  1. Sina Weibo has vast numbers of users with duplicate accounts.
  2. Sina has reached the point of saturation so growth is slowing down naturally anyway.
  3. People are offended by real-name registration so they’re abandoning Sina.

These can easily all be true, but let’s not give up so fast on Sina's microblogging platform. There are still only so many people in China who can afford computers and smartphones. Sina may already have captured the majority of the Internet addicts in this country.

If you're still holding out, here's a list of reasons why hopping on the bandwagon is a good idea:

  • Plenty of users are microblogging in English, so language isn't an excuse.
  • Keep tabs on the latest scandals and spoiled brats involved in auto accidents
  • Connect with the folks behind your favorite bars, restaurants, shops and NGOs
  • Be first to find out about the best new spots around town
  • Also be first to hear about deals and giveaways
  • Stalk your crush See what new friends are up to

Last but not least, do follow us on Sina Weibo (@the_beijinger). We post in English and sometimes in Chinese. Follow that link above, or search “the_beijinger” and become a fan – maybe we’ll be a fan right back. Please note any other combinations of these two words (i.e. minus the underscore) will make you a fan of someone who is not us. (Though, heck, if they look interesting, why not follow them too?) Just remember that we change our background monthly to reflect the cover of our latest issue, so you can’t mistake us for anybody else. See you on Sina Weibo!

Images: Max Wu