Two of the most popular gay dating applications in China have been removed from the country’s app stores, sparking concerns about increased repression of the LGBT community.
As of Tuesday, Blued and Finka were no longer accessible on Apple’s app store and certain Android platforms. Users who have previously downloaded the applications seem to still have access to them.
Both applications remain available for download from their official websites, and no official statement has been made regarding their removal.
In a statement to Wired, Apple remarked: “We adhere to the laws of the nations in which we operate. Following directives from the Cyberspace Administration of China, these two apps have been removed solely from our China storefront.”
Apple operates a distinct app store in China, in compliance with local regulations. Popular applications such as Facebook, Instagram, and other Western social media platforms are inaccessible to Chinese users. Furthermore, international dating apps like Grindr and Tinder are also blocked.
Blued, which was established in China in 2012, is the nation’s most popular dating app for gay men, boasting over 40 million registered users globally. Despite diversifying into live streaming and other services in recent years, it primarily remains an app catered to gay men.
The parent company of Blued acquired Finka in 2020.
Although homosexuality is legal in China, the public expression of LGBT identities has become increasingly suppressed after years of progressive changes. LGBT civil society organizations have been forced to shut down, and China’s largest Pride event, Shanghai Pride, was canceled in 2020. In September, a horror film featuring a gay couple was modified digitally for its release in China.
The founder of an LGBT community organization, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, expressed being “very shocked” at the removal of Blued and Finka from app stores.
“In recent years, the space for sexual minorities has been diminishing…but I was unprepared for the news that online spaces are also disappearing,” he stated.
“Do apps like Blued not aid in fostering social stability and harmony? Why remove them from app stores? I find it challenging to grasp the reasoning behind this,” he continued.
The reason for the app removals and their permanence remains unclear, but internet users have rapidly expressed their concerns.
One WeChat user remarked that Blued “helped countless individuals realize they were not alone, bringing a marginalized group into focus.”
The Cyberspace Administration of China was not available for comment.
Additional research by Lillian Yang
Source: www.theguardian.com
