China: App “Xi Thought” Rocketing up Through the Charts

An app “Study (Xi) Strong Country” produced by the Chinese government has become the most popular in the country, soaring up through the app charts with a little help from the Chinese Communist Party. This is not the first Xi app released in China’s scuffle for the country’s hearts and minds. Last May, the Beijing News reported that the party launched a free app called “Learn from Xi”, which contained Xi’s first book, a collection of his quotes and speeches, even showing a map of the country, so users could know where he had made each statement.
The recent little red app is all arround, allowing users to see state media news reports, video chat with their friends, make a personal schedule and send “red envelopes” of money to friends. The app comes with a Snap chat like messaging function where messages disappear after being read. But perhaps among its most important functions is that it can help users brush up on President Xi’s thought. Users can also take weekly quizzes, including questions about Xi to earn points and eventually prizes or watch television series about China’s “great revolutionary history”. This week the app overtook WeChat and TikTok to become the most-downloaded app for Apple and ios devices in China, though its popularity is not entirely due to merit. Government officials in Fujian province and Qingdao city held workshops last month stressing the “political importance” of the app, and directing local leaders to support the app across government departments.
Some users have reported feeling anxious about earning enough points on the platform, saying their employers are requiring them to score a certain number of points. Some even hinted that they were forced to download the app.
> Alma Siddiqua