
Tencent shuts down another app meant to compete with ByteDance in further consolidation of content operations
- Tencent notified users of Kandian to back up their data by August 15, when the app will stop working, but some features will still be accessible on QQ
- The social media giant has been consolidating its content operations to deal with a slowing economy and stagnating growth
Kandian will cease operations and shut down servers by the end of day on August 15 as part of “adjustments in business development strategy”, according to an announcement on the app. Tencent notified users to back up their data because they will be unable to use the app once it is closed.
However, Kandian content and certain services will continue to be accessible through the Mini World function of QQ, Tencent’s original chat app that has recently seen a resurgence in popularity among Generation Z. Mini World is a short video function for QQ that remains in beta testing and is currently only accessible to certain users.
Tencent cancels free meals to contract employees as part of cost-cutting drive
The tech giant distributed 3 billion yuan (US$443.6 million) in subsidies to 1 million content creators on Kandian in 2020 to lure more users to the platform, which enabled Kandian to attract 240 million daily active users across its apps in March that year, with the average user spending 58 minutes on the platform per day, according to iResearch data.
The company’s content business has been one of the major targets of downsizing.
Started in 2016 with an initial focus on video shooting and editing technologies, the app later morphed into a live video-blogging online community in China. Tencent acquired the company for US$50 million in cash in 2020.
