Part 8/10:
As Chinese tech companies grew in diversity and scale, they created environments that facilitate innovative products suitable for the domestic market, even when heavily cultivated by political constraints. The rise of ByteDance and its global phenomenon TikTok underscores how competitive pressures within this closed internet can yield some of the most creative outputs, all while remaining compliant with CCP regulations.
This unique ecosystem starkly contrasts with global usage, where the internet plays a role in mobilizing protests and challenging authoritarian regimes. In China, the experience is decidedly different; the internet has not emerged as a powerhouse for change but rather a tool for the party’s continued dominance.