Xuexi Qiangguo

Xuexi Qiangguo (Chinese: 学习强国, literally 'Study and strengthen the nation' or 'Study the powerful nation') is a Chinese app primarily designed to teach Xi Jinping Thought.[1] It is designed by Alibaba Group.[2] As of October 2019, it has more than 100 million active users[3] and is now claimed to be the most downloaded item on Apple's domestic App Store, surpassing social media apps such as WeChat and TikTok (also known as Douyin in Mandarin.)[4][5]

Xuexi Qiangguo
Developer(s)Alibaba Group Holding Limited
Initial release1 January 2019
Available inChinese
TypeEducational software
Websitewww.xuexi.cn
Xuexi Qiangguo
Simplified Chinese学习强国
Traditional Chinese學習強國

The name of the app is a pun on Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping's name. "学习" can mean "learning" or "learn from Xi."[6][7]

Features

Aside from offering ideological courses, it allows to video chat with friends, send messages that get deleted after having being read, create a personal calendar, get informed through the state media or watch TV series about the history of the Communist Party of China.[8] The app also has a section about Xi Jinping's thoughts and life and weekly quizzes can be taken about Xi's life and the CPC where points can be won.[9] The usage of each of these sections can provide the user with "study points".[10] By April 2019 it had more than 100 million active users according to Chinese state media.[11]

Once the app is downloaded, it gains access to the ID card number, real name, "bio-data" gleaned from the annual health check, shopping history, phone number, location data and deleted content.[12] The app is strongly promoted by the government institutions and party members get encouraged to download the app in order to "make the country strong".[9] The app is also getting included in some university programs. Schools urge its students to learn from the app, employers give out certificates for "star learners", and some even require their employees to post a daily screenshot with their score at the app.[9]

Controversies

Cure53 and the Open Technology Fund reported that the app allows Chinese government access to all of the data on Android-based phones.[13] Ordinary citizens have also complained about the increasing centrality the app plays in their lives, with students and workers reporting anonymously that teachers and bosses publicly shame or threaten to punish those who have low scores or use the app infrequently. [14]

See also

References
  1. "Rusty on Xi Jinping Thought? China's most popular app will help you with that". South China Morning Post. 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  2. "Alibaba is the force behind hit Chinese Communist Party app: sources". Reuters. 2019-02-19. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  3. "Chinese app on Xi's ideology allows data access to 100 million users' phones, report says". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  4. Huang, Zheping (14 February 2019). "China's most popular app is a propaganda tool teaching Xi Jinping Thought". South China Morning Post.
  5. Li, Audrey Jiajia (2019-04-04). "Opinion | Uber but for Xi Jinping". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  6. Lyons, Lily Kuo Kate (2019-02-15). "China's most popular app brings Xi Jinping to your pocket". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  7. Field, Anna. "Chinese app on Xi's ideology allows data access to users' phones, report says". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  8. "China's hottest app is all about making users study Xi Jinping Thought". shanghaiist. 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  9. Lyons, Lily Kuo Kate (2019-02-15). "China's most popular app brings Xi Jinping to your pocket". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  10. Zhong, Raymond (2019-02-14). "Little Red App: Xi's Thoughts Are (Surprise!) a Hit in China". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  11. Hernández, Javier C. (2019-04-07). "In China, an App About Xi Is Impossible to Ignore — Even if You Try". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
  12. Hawkins, Amy (2019-04-16). "The odd reality of life under China's Orwellian propaganda app". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  13. Fifield, Anna (13 October 2019). "Chinese app on Xi's ideology allows data access to users' phones, report says". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  14. Hernández, Javier (7 April 2019). "The Hottest App in China Teaches Citizens About Their Leader — and, Yes, There's a Test". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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