South by Southwest (SXSW) – the Texas-based annual celebration of interactive technology, film, and music – wrapped up at the weekend, and it was as inspiring and eclectic as ever.
Social media in China is nothing like what we’re used to in the West. Although the country’s Great Firewall blocks most external social media platforms, it is not short of its own unique social networks, as technology is a driving factor for the Chinese economy. RenRen, Weibo and Youku Tudou are examples of social media platforms that, from a Western perspective, are often said to be similar to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Yet, having just returned from Beijing, my argument is that they can't be so easily compared - especially when it comes to the WeChat app.
