Many people are worried about what will happen to Twitter in the future and are looking for an alternative SNS. I’m not worried about it at all (or rather, I just think “it’s about time”), but I’m also trying to get on the bandwagon and try “Threads”. For me who is doing Instagram, Threads is super easy because you can take over your profile and followers. Since it has just been launched, the functions are simple, but it seems that the number of users has exceeded 100 million on the fifth day, and it has gotten off to a good start.
In addition to Threads, various SNS names are listed as alternative services to Twitter. For example, “Mastodon,” which became a hot topic a few years ago, “Bluesky,” which is currently in invite-only beta, and “True Social,” which was launched by former President Trump.
So I thought, what is China’s “Weibo”? That means. Weibo is so popular in the Chinese-speaking world that it is called the “Chinese version of Twitter.” It seems that there are quite a few Japanese users, such as those who do business in China and those who need information about China. I also used it for a while to learn Chinese. Weibo seems to have good compatibility with iOS and Android, and I think it can be used in the same way as Twitter.
When I installed the “Weibo” app for the first time in a while and tried to log in, I couldn’t log in. I left it for a long time, so I’m not sure if the account was suspended for some reason, or if I made a mistake, but with the mobile phone number that I probably registered before I was able to retrieve my account.
For new registration, it is smooth to use a mobile phone number. If you select Japan’s “+81” and enter the phone number without the leading 0, you will receive a verification number by SMS. Enter it to log in.You can also register with your email address or Apple ID.
The bottom line is that Weibo will not replace Twitter. The biggest reason is that it is not localized into Japanese. There are many words that I do not understand, even though I have experience learning Chinese. There is an app called “Weibo intl.” for iOS, but even if you use it, there are parts where only Chinese is displayed. Also, most posts are in Chinese, and posts in English or Japanese are rare. It doesn’t seem like a place where people can express their opinions freely in English or Japanese and interact with each other.
It’s been about 5 days since Weibo reopened.The number of followers does not increase, and even a few people are not seen
However, after accessing Weibo for the first time in a long time, I feel that just looking at Weibo is quite enjoyable.
You can find out what is being talked about in China, and you can get a sense of what kind of things Japan is interested in. It’s interesting to see what Japanese celebrities post in Chinese.
I would like to tell people who want to try Weibo from now on a note of caution that I noticed.
First, use the international version of “Weibo intl.” instead of the original “Weibo” app. It seems that “Weibo intl.” is only available for iOS, but relatively many parts are displayed in English, and the display is simple, so even if you don’t understand Chinese, it will be easy to use.
Weibo app home screen for China (left) and my screen (left) International Weibo intl. app home screen (left) and my screen (left)
Next, switch the translation to “Japanese”. The international version of the Weibo intl. app has a one-tap translation function for posts. By default, it is translated into English, but unless you are good at English, we recommend switching to Japanese.
You can change the language to be translated by “Setting” → “General → Translate” (left).When you tap “See Translation” on the post screen, it will be translated into the specified language
And be sure to install the original “Weibo” app. Both the “Weibo” app and the “Weibo intl.” app can be used together under the same account. Another advantage of Weibo is that it has many functions. For example, if you want to post photos and videos selected with the “Photos” app or share web pages, “Weibo” is smoother and more convenient.
The original “Weibo” app works with the sharing function of iOS. Save time when posting URLs and photos
Also, although it’s a small detail, you can only change your Weibo username once a year. When you create an account, you will first be issued a username of “door + number”. If you change this, you have to wait another year before it can be changed. If you pay the annual membership fee (2,500 yen), there are various benefits, and you can change your name up to 5 times a year, but it’s a waste to pay 2,500 yen for that. When changing to a username of your own choosing, be careful not to make a mistake when entering it.
When you tap the user name part at the top of your screen, your profile screen (left) is displayed. Tap the person and pen icon to change your username and profile (left)
