Core Insights - The recent outage of Zhihu, which affected both web and mobile platforms, unexpectedly brought the company back into public attention [1][4] - This incident occurred during a challenging period for Zhihu, as the company is experiencing significant declines in its core business performance [12][14] Summary by Sections Incident Overview - On October 17, Zhihu faced a widespread outage, causing users to experience loading issues and account logouts [2] - Users reacted with confusion, initially blaming their devices or internet connections for the problems [5][6][7] - The outage particularly impacted users who rely on the platform for leisure during work or study [8][10] Business Performance - Zhihu reported a total revenue of 1.447 billion yuan for the first half of 2025, a significant decline of 23.7% year-over-year [12][13] - The three main business segments—marketing services, paid memberships, and vocational training—saw substantial revenue drops, with marketing services down 37.8% to 420 million yuan and paid memberships down 7.1% [13][14] - The number of paid subscribers decreased from 14.7 million to 13.7 million, indicating a loss of 1 million users [13] Profitability and Cost Management - Despite the revenue decline, Zhihu achieved a net profit of 62.37 million yuan in the first half of 2025, largely due to significant cost-cutting measures [14][15] - Total operating expenses decreased by 30.9%, with notable reductions in sales, research and development, and management costs [14][15] - The strategy of prioritizing profit over growth raises concerns about long-term sustainability and competitiveness, particularly in terms of innovation and technical stability [15] Leadership Changes - The recent resignation of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) adds to the uncertainty surrounding Zhihu's strategic direction, especially as the company focuses on AI initiatives [15] - The timing of the CTO's departure, close to the outage incident, raises questions about the impact of leadership instability on technical maintenance and infrastructure [15]

Core Viewpoint - On October 17, users reported issues with the Zhihu app and website, indicating a system malfunction that led to loading failures [1] Group 1 - Multiple users experienced abnormal behavior on the Zhihu app and web platform, with reports of "loading failed" messages [1] - Zhihu customer service acknowledged the issue, stating that the engineering team is urgently investigating the system anomaly and apologized for the inconvenience [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the decline of classical internet platforms, highlighting recent acquisitions of companies like Hupu and Ximalaya, which reflect a significant drop in their market valuations compared to their peak years [4][5][7]. Summary by Sections Recent Acquisitions - Xunlei acquired Hupu for 500 million, while Tencent Music purchased Ximalaya for 2.9 billion, both indicating a trend of established internet companies selling at lower valuations than in their prime [4]. - Hupu and Ximalaya, both over ten years old and once dominant in their niches, are now struggling to maintain their user bases and market positions [4][5]. Historical Context - The closure of platforms like Tianya Forum and the struggles of others like Renren and Douban illustrate the broader decline of classical internet communities [5][9]. - Hupu's valuation dropped from approximately 7.7 billion in 2019 to 500 million in 2023, reflecting a significant loss in user engagement and market value [8]. Financial Performance - Ximalaya's peak valuation was around 5 billion in 2021, but it faced challenges in maintaining growth and profitability, leading to its eventual acquisition by Tencent [7][15]. - Hupu's financial instability is evident from its failed IPO attempts due to high accounts receivable and fluctuating profits, with net profits varying significantly from 2013 to 2015 [14]. Market Dynamics - The rise of mobile internet and social media platforms has shifted user attention away from traditional content communities, leading to a decline in user engagement and content quality [18][19]. - Both Hupu and Ximalaya rely heavily on advertising and subscription models, making them vulnerable to market fluctuations and changes in user behavior [21][22]. Future Prospects - Despite the decline of classical internet platforms, there are still opportunities for niche content platforms to thrive, as seen with companies like Bilibili and Xiaohongshu, which have successfully adapted their business models [26][29]. - The article suggests that while the classical internet era is fading, community-driven platforms still hold potential for growth if they can balance content quality with monetization strategies [31].