cover of episode David and Goliath: Bytedance takes on WeChat

David and Goliath: Bytedance takes on WeChat

2019/8/16
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People
A
Ashley Dudarenok
E
Eva Xiao
T
Tom Xiong
Topics
Eva Xiao：多闪并非简单复制Snapchat，而是融合了Snapchat、Instagram和抖音的优点，试图挑战微信的霸主地位，并抓住年轻一代用户。其72小时消失的视频功能，降低了用户创作内容的压力，更注重生活记录，减轻年轻一代的社交压力。字节跳动强大的AI图像识别能力，使其能够在全球范围内竞争，并通过抖音积累的用户行为，进一步发展多闪的社交功能。 Tom Xiong：多闪挑战微信，如同大卫与歌利亚的故事，是一场弱势对抗强势的战斗。多闪的消失视频功能虽然新颖，但对博主和KOL不利。多闪目前缺乏完善的社交网络，社交功能还有待完善，目前并非对微信的重大威胁。字节跳动在海外市场取得了巨大成功，抖音推出小游戏，进军游戏市场，展现了其强大的竞争力。 Ashley Dudarenok：多闪的用户界面和用户体验还有待改进。多闪的一些有趣功能需要通过与他人聊天才能发现。多闪试图通过更有趣和互动的方式，吸引年轻用户，其72小时消失视频功能能够减轻年轻用户在社交媒体上的压力。多闪的AI能够识别视频内容并推荐合适的音乐，但其语音识别能力可能不如图像识别能力强大。多闪目前缺乏完善的社交网络，但其消失视频功能减少了用户对内容创作和他人评价的顾虑。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Duoshan, a new social networking app by Bytedance, aims to challenge WeChat's dominance in China. The app's features and target audience are discussed, along with the potential challenges it faces.
  • Duoshan is a video-sharing app with disappearing content aimed at younger users.
  • Bytedance's AI capabilities are highlighted as a key advantage for content recommendation.
  • The app's social messaging features are compared to WeChat, with a focus on privacy and user control.

Shownotes Transcript

In a country where WeChat rules supreme, Bytedance is attempting the impossible. Last month,the Beijing-based startup launched its own social networking app called Duoshan. It wouldn’t be the first time Bytedance has made larger, more established tech companies nervous. It runs TikTok, a video-sharing app that has quickly grown popular worldwide -- a rare feat for a Chinese tech firm -- inspiring Facebook to launch its own competing app called Lasso. The startup has also already started butting heads with Tencent. Last year, the heads of both companies became embroiled in a public spat on WeChat, where the Bytedance CEO accused Tencent of copying Douyin -- the Chinese version of TikTok -- and blocking it in WeChat to slow its growth. A few months later in a separate case, Tencent sued the startup for 1 RMB ($0.15) for defamation.** As large tech firms solidify their monopolies around the world -- Google dominates search, Tencent owns social -- it is becoming increasingly difficult for newcomers to challenge tech giants on their own turf. So will Duoshan be successful? And is Bytedance the company that can finally break Tencent’s hold on social? In this episode, we’ll discuss: The promising features of Duoshan -- and their disadvantages China’s younger generation and the appeal of disappearing videos or “stories” Bytedance’s AI edge Bytedance’s success with TikTok and foray into gaming, another important business for Tencent Guest: Ashley Dudarenok, founder of Alarice International, a Hong Kong-based digital marketing agency that focuses on Chinese social media. Hosts: Eva Xiao and Tom Xiong Production: Jacob Loven Digitally China is a subjective but independent depiction of the tech scene in China. Audio clips used in the podcast have not been distorted nor taken out of context and are included for commentary and educational purposes and thus shall be considered “Fair Use”. Digitally China ispowered by RADII (www.radiichina.com)), an independent media platform exploring China from all angles.