百度贴吧 (Baidu Tieba)

Baidu Tieba (百度贴吧) is a Chinese online forum and community platform launched by Baidu in 2003. It is one of the most popular social media platforms in China, consistently ranking among the top 100 websites globally. Tieba allows users to create and join forums, known as 'bars' (吧), dedicated to virtually any topic, from entertainment and technology to education and local interests. Each bar functions as a self-contained community with its own moderators, rules, and culture. As of the mid-2020s, Tieba reportedly has over 1.5 billion registered accounts and hundreds of millions of daily active users, making it a central hub for Chinese internet culture. The platform generates revenue primarily through advertising, including targeted ads based on user interests and activity. Tieba also integrates with other Baidu services, such as Baidu Search and Baidu Zhidao, creating a cohesive ecosystem. Despite competition from newer social media platforms like Weibo and Douyin, Tieba remains influential, especially among niche communities and for long-form discussions. Its user base skews younger, with a strong presence in gaming, anime, and pop culture fandoms. The platform has faced challenges with content moderation and spam, but Baidu has implemented AI-driven tools to manage quality. Overall, Tieba is a cornerstone of Chinese online social interaction, offering a unique blend of forum structure and real-time engagement.