How mobile apps improve the lives of Chinese people

Short-form videos offer slice of life

No 3: Short-form videos

High school student Zhao Ziqi said he would struggle to live now without Kuaishou, a popular Chinese app similar to Instagram that lets users share short-form videos and livestream.

"It's a great social network that brings me fun as well as an income," said the 18-year-old from Yingkou, Liaoning province. "It's helped me make many new friends."

Short-form video apps like Kuaishou, Miaopai and Meipai have seen a sharp increase in users in recent years. As of December, the number had reached about 420 million, more than half of all netizens, according to the China Internet Network Information Center.

Kuaishou, which is backed by technology giant Tencent, is one of the most popular apps on the market. Last year, it had 700 million registered users, including more than 100 million who log on daily.

One of its most famous users is Li Tianyou, 23, who reportedly earns 80 million yuan ($12.7 million) a year from sharing short-form videos and livestreaming.

Zhao began using Kuaishou in 2016 and has amassed over 4,000 followers. He said he earns about 3,000 yuan a month in "gifts" from fans, attributing his success to his good looks and sense of humor.

"I share at least one video about my daily life on the platform every day, and I sometimes do the livestreaming to chat with my followers," he said. "I can't live without it now."

HE QI