China Outside China 15 January 2025 Everything you need to know about Xiaohongshu As fears of a TikTok ban grow, Americans are turning to Xiaohongshu, which translates to “little red book.” Here’s how the lifestyle app became a global phenomenon. By Rest of World Staff
China Outside China 14 January 2025 U.S. TikTokers flock to Xiaohongshu, baffling and bonding with Chinese users Americans are joining the Chinese social media app en masse to protest an imminent TikTok ban. By Kinling Lo and Viola Zhou
Innovation 7 January 2025 The little ride-hailing app that could catch up to Uber and Bolt in Kenya Founder Kamal Budhabhatti’s winning strategy targets corporate clients. By Damilare Dosunmu
Year In Review 4 December 2024 What we learned from reporting on global tech this year Rest of World contributors from Dhaka to Buenos Aires share their highlights, low points, and key takeaways from covering technology in 2024. By Faisal Mahmud, Stephanie Wangari, Lucía Cholakian Herrera, Michelle Anindya and Zhaoyin Feng
Tech Giants 3 December 2024 Uber’s big plan for India: buses Uber Shuttle, a shared bus ride service, is available in two Indian cities. The company plans to launch in three more cities soon. By Anisha Sircar
Innovation 13 November 2024 Grab built its own map in Southeast Asia, and is now going after Google The super-app uses its own drivers and cameras to create hyperlocal maps in eight countries. By Michelle Anindya
Tech Giants 12 November 2024 Phony X accounts are meddling in Ghana’s election A network of 171 bot accounts is using AI to write political posts. By Caroline Haskins
Regional Champions 21 October 2024 A local ride-hailing service can’t beat Uber and Bolt, so its drivers are beating up their rivals Shesha was launched as a fair-minded local competitor to Western companies in South Africa. It has acquired an ugly reputation for intimidating drivers and passengers. By Ray Mwareya
Creator Economy 14 October 2024 TikTok wants to turn millions of Americans into paid shopping influencers You only need around 1,000 followers to earn money eating noodles and selling toys on TikTok Shop. By Viola Zhou and Peiyue Wu
Tech Giants 7 October 2024 Instagram helps Brazilians dodge a national sales ban on vapes As Brazilian law clashes with Meta’s policies, illegal vapes flood social media and the streets. By Pedro Nakamura
China Outside China 3 October 2024 Xiaohongshu has revolutionized Chinese tourism in Southeast Asia The lifestyle and social media platform, often compared to Instagram, is turning obscure sites into must-see attractions. By Zhaoyin Feng
Tech Giants 18 September 2024 Netflix and thrill: The hunt for the next Squid Game in Southeast Asia As Amazon and Disney step back, Netflix invests in “locally authentic” content to grab subscribers in the region. By Michelle Anindya
