China’s zero-Covid protests: Twitter, Telegram rise in popularity
Beijing: An app market researcher has found social media platforms like Twitter and Telegram, which are blocked in mainland China and only accessible via virtual private networks (VPNs), have become popular in the country amid widespread protests and restrictions imposed due to COVID-19.
The information was shared by app market researcher Sensor Tower.
Twitter surged to become the eighth most popular free iOS app in China on Monday, two days after such protests broke out across the country starting with Shanghai, data from Sensor Tower showed.
While the app had fallen to 26th place by Thursday, it still ranked far higher than its previous spot of below 100th, reports South China Morning Post.
Meanwhile, messaging app Telegram, which allows for encrypted chat, had jumped to the sixth spot on Sunday in the social networking category, where it remained for four days before dropping slightly to seventh place Thursday, the Chinese newspaper reported.
Both apps are currently available for download for users with a Chinese Apple ID, but they can only send messages or view content on the apps by using VPN services to circumvent China’s Great Firewall – a sophisticated censorship system that blocks many foreign websites.
China has been witnessing protests over COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the government in several cities to control viral spread for the past several months.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
Related Articles
Canada backs US action to stop Iran from developing nuclear arms
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Minister Anita Anand in a joint statement on Saturday said that Canada supports efforts by the United States to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon.
Dubai airport shuts down, Burj Khalifa evacuated amid Iran missile strikes across Gulf
Dubai/IBNS: Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international aviation hub, has suspended all flight operations indefinitely after a wave of Iranian missile strikes rocked Gulf Arab states on Saturday.
Great PM, great general: Donald Trump praises Munir, Sharif amid escalating Pakistan-Afghanistan tension
US President Donald Trump has praised his relationship with Pakistan and commended the country’s leadership amid escalating tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.
Israel launches ‘pre-emptive strike’ on Iran; explosions rock Tehran
Tehran/IBNS: Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz said the country launched a “pre-emptive strike” on Iran early Saturday morning, media reports said.
Latest News
Canada backs US action to stop Iran from developing nuclear arms
Modi launches nationwide HPV vaccine drive, calls it a game-changer for India’s daughters
Microchip is the new oil: PM Modi inaugurates Micron’s mega semiconductor plant
Media Forum holds sit-in demonstration in Kailashahar, demands arrest of two MLAs