
China’s clickbait apps targeted by state media
Could Qu Toutiao be the next to face an official crackdown?
But clickbait is exactly what those apps are all about. They run on a “read and earn” model -- rewarding users with points for clicking on a certain amount of stories, and referring friends to the apps.

Qu Toutiao says the points you earn in the app can be converted to real money -- though the exchange rate varies daily according to the company’s advertising revenue. For instance, a successful friend referral on the app is worth 3,500 points -- but that could translate to anything from around 2 to 40 US cents depending on the day.
Zhihu, where people in China go to ask questions and get answers
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