vol.038：China's Short Video Platforms: Business and Transformation
Description
The source provides an extensive analysis of the business structure and cultural impact of short-form video platforms in China, focusing primarily on Douyin (the original Chinese version of TikTok) and Kuaishou. Authored by IT journalist Makino Takefumi, the text explains that these services have evolved beyond simple entertainment to become national content platforms used by nearly all Chinese internet users, much like YouTube or television in other regions. It highlights that the platforms' impressive revenue generation relies not only on highly efficient in-line advertising powered by ByteDance's core machine learning technology but also on diversifying streams like live commerce and content monetization (e.g., online learning). The discussion contrasts Douyin and the international TikTok, noting their increasing divergence in content and business models, and concludes that short-form video represents a powerful new media format that is fragmenting all other content types.
United States
