Major Chinese Gay Dating Apps Withdrawn from Digital Stores
In a significant move that has alarmed LGBTQ+ communities and digital rights observers, two of China's most prominent gay dating applications have been removed from major app stores. Blued and Finka disappeared from both Apple's App Store and several Android platforms as of Tuesday, though existing users who had previously downloaded the apps reportedly retain access.
Official Statements and Legal Compliance
Technology giant Apple confirmed the removal was executed following direct instructions from Chinese internet regulators. Apple issued a statement clarifying that the company "follows the laws in the countries where we operate" and acted "based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China." The removal specifically affects only the Chinese storefront, reflecting Apple's operation of a separate app store within China's borders, where numerous Western platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and dating apps such as Grindr and Tinder remain blocked.
Neither Blued nor Finka have released public comments regarding their sudden disappearance from digital marketplaces. Interestingly, both applications remain available for direct download through their official websites, creating a partial access route for determined users.
Context and Community Impact
The removal has generated considerable concern among LGBTQ+ advocates and community members. Blued, founded in China in 2012, stands as the nation's most popular dating platform for gay men, boasting an impressive 40 million registered users worldwide. Although the platform has diversified into services like live streaming in recent years, its primary identity remains rooted in connecting gay men. The company expanded its portfolio by acquiring Finka in 2020.
This development occurs against a backdrop of increasing restrictions on LGBTQ+ visibility in China. Despite homosexuality being legal, LGBTQ+ civil society organisations have faced closures, Shanghai Pride was suspended in 2020, and recent media content has been altered to remove gay representation, including a horror film that digitally transformed a gay couple into a straight couple for its Chinese release.
An anonymous founder of an LGBTQ+ community organisation expressed profound shock at the app removals, stating: "The living space for sexual minorities has been shrinking over the past few years... but hearing this news now, it caught me off guard that online spaces are also shrinking." The individual questioned the rationale, asking: "Don't apps like Blued contribute to social stability and harmony? Why remove them from app stores?"
Social media reactions reflected widespread concern, with one WeChat user noting that Blued "made countless people realise for the first time that they weren't alone; it brought a group from the margins to being seen." The Cyberspace Administration of China could not be reached for comment regarding the permanent nature or specific reasoning behind the removal order.
