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 Viewpoints - Baidu is reassessing its Tieba platform to enhance user-generated content (UGC) and compete with platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, as its search market share declines [1][5] - The future strategy for Tieba includes reducing advertisements to attract back old users and promote self-creation [5] - The transition from PC to mobile has posed significant challenges for traditional forums like Tieba, which struggle with content organization and user engagement in the mobile era [8][9] Group 1: Challenges and Evolution of Tieba - Tieba, once the largest Chinese forum in the PC era, faces difficulties in the mobile environment due to mismatched product forms and inefficient content organization [9][12] - The rise of creator economy has shifted quality content producers towards platforms with monetization opportunities, impacting Tieba's content quality [9][17] - The community's value proposition is being challenged by platforms like Xiaohongshu, which offer a more open UGC ecosystem, allowing ordinary users to gain attention and monetization opportunities [9][10] Group 2: Community Dynamics and Future Trends - The future of interest communities is expected to focus on higher information efficiency, stronger interactive feedback, and vertical tool utilization [54] - Successful communities often emerge from organic growth and cultural development rather than aggressive marketing strategies [52][54] - The integration of commerce and community is becoming essential, with platforms like潮玩族 demonstrating how interest-based communities can effectively merge content and consumption [40][41] Group 3: Community Commercialization and Creator Ecosystem - Community commercialization remains a complex issue, with successful models often relying on unique cultural attributes rather than just content [36][40] - The creator ecosystem must provide pathways for recognition and monetization to retain quality contributors, as seen in platforms like Xiaohongshu and Bilibili [43][45] - The balance between content value and community engagement is crucial for sustaining user interest and participation [44][46]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the enduring appeal and unique culture of Baidu Tieba, highlighting the community of users known as "Tieba Laoge" who contribute to its vibrant atmosphere and grassroots spirit [1][10][17]. Group 1: Community Dynamics - Baidu Tieba has over 20 million active forums, with 70% of its users being male, referred to as "Tieba Laoge" [1][2]. - The community is characterized by a mix of humor, support, and knowledge-sharing, where users engage in various topics from personal issues to complex subjects like quantum mechanics [4][5][10]. - Tieba Laoge often provide emotional support and practical advice, creating a sense of camaraderie and understanding among users [5][6][17]. Group 2: Historical Significance - Established in 2003, Baidu Tieba was one of the first interactive platforms in the Chinese internet landscape, allowing users to create forums based on shared interests [7][10]. - The platform played a significant role in the rise of grassroots internet culture in China, enabling users to freely express their thoughts without centralized control [7][10]. - Tieba's influence peaked during events like the "Super Girl" talent show in 2005, which significantly increased user engagement and traffic [8][9]. Group 3: Cultural Impact - Tieba has been a breeding ground for internet memes and cultural phenomena, with many popular phrases and trends originating from its discussions [9][10]. - The platform has maintained a unique identity, contrasting with more polished social media by fostering a raw and genuine user experience [15][17]. - Despite the rise of other platforms, Tieba continues to thrive due to its authentic community and the enduring appeal of its "Laoge spirit" [10][17]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Baidu is reportedly planning to revitalize Tieba by restoring older posts and enhancing user engagement, aiming to recapture the platform's original spirit [15][18]. - The community's grassroots nature and emotional connections among users are seen as key factors for its continued relevance in the evolving digital landscape [17][18].