%0 Journal Article
%T The impact of monetization on the public functions of Weibo
%A Lize Zhang
%A Weiyu Zhang
%J Global Media and China
%@ 2059-4372
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/2059436418806335
%X Operating as a commercial business with public functions, Weibo¡¯s pursuit of profits has to be balanced with the demands of citizen users. This article examines how the dynamics between increasing profits and preserving public interest manifests itself in Weibo¡¯s monetization and how the dynamics impacts Weibo¡¯s public functions. Drawn on evidence collected through participant observation and 19 in-depth interviews, this article first provides a description of the major practices of monetization. Next, it describes how the introduction of commercial elements, the cluttered product development, and the embrace with strong domestic capitals reshape Weibo¡¯s public functions. Finally, it concludes with a discussion on the attitude of Weibo toward the dynamics between profits and public interest, and how Weibo¡¯s pursuit of profits under the market influence has to be included when examining Weibo¡¯s impact on the development of Chinese society
%K Monetization
%K profits
%K public functions
%K public interest
%K Weibo
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2059436418806335