Live streaming, gaming, online lending -- China’s social media platform Renren, once known as the Facebook of China, has been trying to reinvent itself since it fell out of fashion among younger users. Today, it launched a new version of the Renren app, bringing it back to where it started: A social networking app.
Much like Facebook, Renren became one of China’s biggest social media networks after tapping into the student population. However, soon after its IPO in 2011, the app started losing ground to mobile-focused social platforms like WeChat. Since then, the app has tried out many of the country’s tech trends, including issuing crypto tokens and live streaming, but has failed to attract a larger audience.
In the new version, the company seems to be focusing on connecting students, moving live streaming function into a separate app called Renren Live. For users that want to join, app will allow easy access to forgotten passwords and better privacy protection, according to local media. Last year’s acquisition announcement put the platform’s numbers at 31 million monthly active users, roughly a third from its heyday.