Surge in China’s Internet Users: Short Videos and Mobile Payments Leading the Charge in 2024

The number of internet users in China is approaching 1.1 billion, fueled by the popularity of brief video applications and mobile transactions. As per a government study conducted in the first half of 2024, over a third of the country's new internet users were attracted to these short video apps.

The latest government statistics revealed that as of June's end, the number of internet users in China had almost reached 1.1 billion, an increase of 7.42 million since December. This surge was mainly due to the multitude of online entertainment choices attracting both young and old users, contributing to the world's biggest online user base.

As of June, roughly 78% of citizens living in mainland China had internet access, as per a report disclosed on Thursday by the state agency, the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC). The report further indicated that more than 37% of new internet users were attracted to apps that feature short videos.

In China, the primary reasons for using the internet were entertainment and social requirements. Around 95% of internet users in the country had watched brief video clips that are accessible on well-known platforms such as ByteDance's Douyin, its competitor Kuaishou, and Tencent Holdings' multifunctional application WeChat.

Nearly half of the individuals who started using the internet in the first six months of this year fell into the age bracket of 10 to 19 years, making up 49% of the total. Additionally, a significant portion of the new users were seniors aged 50 and above, who comprised 36% of this group.