In China, the Internet is not simply an open door to the vast global digital world; it is a controlled, closed and carefully monitored space, often described as an "intranet" rather than the Internet as we know it in the West.
Sergio Vergara
Sergio Vergara
September 24, 2024 — 5 minutes reading time
China's Intranet: How WeChat and Mini-Programs Have Redefined the Internet and Digital Life in the Country
Photo by Sergio Vergara
Today I want to share with you my personal experience on a trip event planner email list to China this summer. We all know how technologically advanced the country is and now that I have experienced it first hand I wanted to share my impressions, especially regarding the “China Intranet”.
In China, the internet has evolved in a unique way due to the influence of the Great Firewall , which restricts access to many international services, allowing the development of a digital ecosystem of its own. One example of this transformation is the creation of a kind of “intranet within the internet,” especially through applications such as WeChat and its Mini-programs . These programs are lightweight “web” applications that run within WeChat and other super apps such as Alipay and Douyin, and allow users to perform a wide range of activities without needing to download additional applications.
Under the strict supervision of the Great Firewall , Chinese citizens have no access to platforms like Google, Facebook, WhatsApp or YouTube, which are blocked. However, China’s digital reality is neither poor nor limited; on the contrary, it has flourished with its own innovations, one of the most notable being WeChat, a super app that has transformed the country’s digital ecosystem.
The WeChat ecosystem
WeChat, launched by Tencent in 2011, started out as a messaging app but has evolved into a comprehensive platform spanning social media, e-payments, utilities, e-commerce, web browsing, and more. Key to this transformation lies in its Mini-programs – small, integrated apps that allow users to perform tasks within WeChat without having to download external apps. These Mini-programs function as private websites, accessible only through WeChat, creating an effective intranet within the app itself.
Mini-programs offer a wide range of services including everything from shopping and taxi bookings to games and medical appointments. This has allowed users to conduct much of their digital life without leaving WeChat, simplifying the user experience and minimising the need for other platforms. According to recent reports, there are over 4 million Mini-programs in operation within WeChat alone , covering an immense amount of needs and services.
A radical change in the digital life of WeChat users
This closed ecosystem has had a significant impact on users’ everyday lives. While in the West most users rely on a variety of apps for different tasks, in China, WeChat has centralized many everyday functions. Users can pay bills, send messages, make purchases, manage medical appointments, and even apply for loans, all without leaving the app. This has made WeChat omnipresent in their daily lives.
Furthermore, the widespread use of WeChat Pay , the app’s in-app payment system, has transformed the way people conduct financial transactions. From street markets to large shopping malls, WeChat Pay is accepted everywhere – even major street performers rely on their WeChat Pay QR to receive tips, eliminating the need for cash. Even small, everyday transactions, such as paying for a cup of coffee, are handled through QR codes , facilitated by the platform.