It seems like barely a day goes by lately without state media singing the latest praises of microblogging, a development which could bode well for dominant player Weibo but which could also hold risks if Beijing decides this popular form of social networking is too important to leave to organic development in the hands of private developers. Followers of Weibo, often called the Twitter of China, will recall that the platform was the source of criticism by state media for much of the first half of the year, which blamed it for spreading rumors from users who could hide behind cloaks of anonymity. One official even came out as recently as last month and suggested that all microblog users might have to register with their real names, a development that would have sent a huge chill through networks like Weibo and other services operated by names like NetEase (Nasdaq: NTES). (previous post) Fast forward to now, when the tone in the debate has changed quite a bit, following Beijing’s latest decision that microblogging was a great tool for the government to communicate with the people. Following that shift, major state media gush almost daily about the latest government agencies that have opened accounts on Weibo, and have also taken to reporting the other positive effects of microblogging sites. The lead story on page 1 of today’s China Daily is headlined “Micro blogs open a world of communication”, and a search on the subject on its web page reveals positive stories praising everything from microblogging’s role in fighting organized crime to helping people to find love. No mention seems to be made anymore of rumor mongering and the medium’s ability to create social unrest. Of course all that should be good for Weibo and its struggling parent, Sina (Nasdaq: SINA), whose shares have lost about half their value since June as many of its investments outside its core web portal business have stumbled. All this latest praise from Beijing seems to indicate Weibo won’t be shut down or reined in anytime soon, which should be a relief to Sina. Now it just has to find a way to make money off the platform, and also take care to keep Beijing happy by convincing it of Weibo’s important role in developing a harmonious society.
Bottom line: Beijing’s recent shift in tone marks a positive development for microblogging services like Weibo, which are now being called important communicators rather than rumor mongers.
Related postings 相关文章:
◙ Sina Results: Not So Diversified After All 新浪仍依赖广告,突围遇阻
◙ Weibo Still Faces Crackdown Despite Govt Tie-Up 新浪微博难改“被监管”命运
◙ Sina’s Weibo: Growth Engine or Growing Burden? 新浪微博：动力or负担？
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