Tencent Weibo is a social network that connects all users together. It enhances communication between friends. Users can share photos, videos and text with a 140-character limit. The reposting function of Tencent Weibo is similar to Twitter's "retweeting", which is replied in @ form. In comparison, Tencent Weibo encourages users to create new topics on their own. With the support of QQ, Tencent doesn't intend to launch Tencent Weibo at a strategic level, but as a marketing tactic to curb competitors. Many celebrities are Tencent Weibo users, including, Ma Huateng, Zhou Hongyi, Liu Xiang and Jet Li.
Features
Initially only QQ users could register Tencent Weibo account corresponding to their own QQ number. Weibo accounts are not automatically registered for QQ users, they need tolog in Tencent Weibo page for registration. Email address can be used for registration. Posts can be shortened into an url.cn domain name. Each user can follow up to 2,000 people. Through the QQ client, QQ Pinyin input method, computer, smartphone, SMS and MMS, users can broadcast microblogging messages. In addition, photos can be inserted in all form, except SMS. Also, users can add videos and songs, which is currently only supported on the homepage.
History
Early in 2007, Tencent launched a microblogging-like website Taotao.com. However, due to some operating problems, on January 26, 2010, Tencent announced to shut down and merge the website into the Qzone. Later in March, Qoocu.com released some screenshots of the internal beta test of Tencent Weibo. On April 1, Tencent began its public beta test, people with an invitation code might take part in the test. And on the same day, Tencent released its QQ2010 version Beta3, with the microblogging feature included. In the second quarter of 2012 it had 469 million registered users. On July 23, 2014, Tencent Inc announced that it will integrate its micro-blogging service's operation team into the company's news team, after media reported that it has dismissed its micro-blogging department and will stop upgrading its micro-blogging service.
Tencent Weibo act as an 'open' platform for developers and users to communicate and share data widely. After signing on, developers and users can use the open API to create an application. Through the application, they can obtain information or spread new information.
Censorship
Tencent Weibo may censor discussion of public social interest activities, such as worker or people's strikes. An example was blocking discussion of Foxconn worker's strikes in October, 2012.
