Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rise and fall of Baidu Tieba, once a dominant online community in China, highlighting its initial success, cultural impact, and subsequent decline due to commercialization and competition from other platforms [4][6][60]. Group 1: Rise of Baidu Tieba - Baidu Tieba was launched in 2003, combining search engine capabilities with online forums, allowing users to connect over shared interests [8]. - At its peak, Baidu Tieba had over 1 billion registered users and 300 million monthly active users, making it a significant player in the Chinese internet landscape [4][34]. - The platform became a cultural phenomenon, generating over 90% of internet memes and serving as a hub for fan culture, particularly during events like the "Super Girl" singing competition in 2005 [9][10][13]. Group 2: Cultural Impact - Tieba was instrumental in the development of fan culture in China, with various fan clubs emerging for celebrities and shows, leading to massive engagement [10][13]. - The platform also became a source of viral content, exemplified by the "Jia Junpeng" meme, which garnered immense attention and participation [17][20]. - Tieba's decentralized nature allowed for a diverse range of discussions, from entertainment to serious topics, making it a unique space for user-generated content [32][34]. Group 3: Decline of Baidu Tieba - The rise of mobile internet and platforms like Weibo and WeChat began to divert user attention away from Tieba after 2010 [46]. - Baidu's aggressive commercialization strategies, including excessive advertising and the controversial "selling" of forums, led to a decline in user trust and engagement [47][49]. - By 2021, Tieba's monthly active users had plummeted to approximately 37 million, a decline of nearly 90% from its peak [55][60]. Group 4: Current Status and Legacy - Despite its decline, Baidu Tieba still retains a niche user base, with some communities continuing to thrive in a more subdued manner [63][65]. - The platform's history reflects broader trends in the Chinese internet, showcasing the challenges of maintaining user engagement in a rapidly evolving digital landscape [60][66]. - The memories and cultural significance of Tieba remain, as it continues to evoke nostalgia among users who participated in its vibrant community [62][66].

Core Insights - Baidu Tieba was once a dominant force in the Chinese internet landscape, boasting over 300 million monthly active users and more than 1 billion registered users, significantly surpassing platforms like Weibo [1][3][29] - The platform's unique model combined search keywords with forum discussions, creating a space where users could connect over shared interests, leading to its rapid rise in popularity [4][27] - However, the platform has seen a dramatic decline in user engagement, with daily active users dropping to around 8-9 million, a staggering 97% decrease from its peak [41][44] Group 1: Rise of Baidu Tieba - Baidu Tieba was launched in 2003, allowing users to create forums based on search keywords, which opened new avenues for online communication [4] - The platform became a hub for fan culture, particularly during events like "Super Girl," where fan engagement led to an explosion of posts, with an average of 4 posts created every second [6][7] - By 2011, Baidu Tieba had over 500 million users, accounting for more than 80% of the total Chinese internet user base at that time [29] Group 2: Cultural Impact - Baidu Tieba was a significant source of internet memes and cultural phenomena, with many popular phrases originating from the platform [18] - The platform also served as a space for various communities, including literature and gaming, with notable works like "Tomb Raider Notes" being serialized there [20][22] - During crises, such as the Wenchuan earthquake, Baidu Tieba played a crucial role in disseminating information and coordinating rescue efforts [24] Group 3: Decline and Challenges - The rise of mobile internet and platforms like Weibo and WeChat began to siphon off users from Baidu Tieba, leading to a decline in engagement [36][39] - Aggressive commercialization strategies, including excessive advertising and the controversial "selling" of forums, eroded user trust and led to a mass exodus of quality content creators [36][37] - By 2021, the platform's monthly active users had plummeted to approximately 37 million, reflecting a loss of nearly 90% of its user base over five years [39] Group 4: Current Status and Future - Despite efforts to revitalize the platform through reduced advertising and new interactive features, user return rates remain low, with daily active users significantly reduced [41][44] - Baidu Tieba's history reflects broader trends in the Chinese internet, showcasing both the potential for community-driven platforms and the pitfalls of commercialization [44][46] - Nonetheless, a niche community still exists, with some users actively engaging in unique content creation, indicating that the platform retains a degree of cultural relevance [46][47]

Core Viewpoint - The sudden popularity of actress Yang Zi's dance videos has led to a significant increase in her social media following and has sparked a creative response from various local cultural and tourism departments across the country [1][2][7]. Group 1: Yang Zi's Dance Videos - Yang Zi's dance videos, inspired by Korean star Lee Yi-seung, gained immense popularity, resulting in a 300,000 increase in followers within a day [1][2]. - The dance features simple, repetitive movements that create a humorous effect, described as "awkward yet catchy" [4]. - Yang Zi humorously acknowledged her newfound fame, stating that while her acting may be criticized, her dancing should not be [3]. Group 2: Cultural and Tourism Departments' Response - Nearly 100 local cultural and tourism departments have created promotional videos incorporating Yang Zi's dance, showcasing a rare level of engagement [7]. - The creative use of Yang Zi's dance in promotional content has led to widespread online interaction, with users commenting on their virtual travels alongside her [13]. - The phenomenon reflects a broader trend of leveraging viral content for tourism promotion, as seen with the earlier popularity of the "Lee Yi-seung March" meme [14].