China’s government is forcing millions of people to download an app promoting president Xi Jinping and the country’s ruling Communist Party, according to reports.
Tens of millions of people use the ‘Study the Great Nation’ (Xuexi Qiangguo) app, which allows users to earn points by following news about
Critics warn the app’s popularity is engineered by Community Party officials, who put pressure on citizens to use the app and punish those who ignore it. Study the Great Nation, which is a pun on
It has since become the most downloaded app for Apple devices in the country, surpassing messaging app WeChat and viral media app TikTok, with state media claiming it has more than 100 million registered users.
Thousands of communist party officials have reportedly been ordered to ensure citizens use the app, with schools criticising students with low scores and companies ranking employees based on their usage.
Many employers reportedly require workers to submit daily screenshots to document their progress on the app or deduct pay if the app is not used frequently. “It’s a perfect example of propaganda in the Xi era… that appeals to China’s large online population,” Manya Koetse told AFP.