Chinese apps vie to become the next TikTok without making splash at home

StarMaker, Bigo Live and Yalla make inroads into Southeast Asia, Middle East

The StarMaker karaoke app has captured more than 240 million registered users worldwide. (Photo by Takashi Kawakami)

TAKASHI KAWAKAMI and TOMOKO WAKASUGI, Nikkei staff writers

July 28, 2022 07:28 JST

GUANGZHOU/SHANGHAI -- A new generation of Chinese apps aims to become a global phenomenon like TikTok without a bruising fight for space in the domestic market.

StarMaker lets users create and share self-made music videos. The karaoke video app, which first gained traction in Southeast Asia and the Middle East around 2018, now boasts over 240 million cumulative registered users.