China Removes Popular LGBTQ+ Dating Apps in Ongoing Digital Crackdown
China has removed several popular LGBTQ+ dating apps — including Blued and Finka — from app stores nationwide, marking another escalation in the country’s tightening restrictions on LGBTQ+ content and digital spaces.
Apple confirmed that the removals were carried out at the direction of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s top internet regulator. The development follows a series of actions targeting LGBTQ+ groups, online communities, and advocacy platforms over the past few years.
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Users in China can no longer download or access these apps, as authorities intensify efforts to limit visibility and digital engagement around LGBTQ+ identities. The move has sparked concern among rights groups, who warn that the crackdown aims to erase queer representation and restrict safe spaces for community interaction.
The removals are part of a broader trend in which China is increasingly policing online expression, tightening control over content deemed “sensitive,” and limiting platforms that provide support for marginalized communities.
China Removes Popular LGBTQ+ Dating Apps in Ongoing Digital Crackdown