Apple has been forced to remove Blued and Finka, China’s two most widely-used gay dating apps, from its App Store after receiving orders from the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s chief internet regulator and censorship body. The takedown, first uncovered by Wired, represents the latest blow to China’s embattled LGBTQ+ community.“We follow the laws in the countries where we operate. Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only,” an Apple spokesperson confirmed to Wired. While existing users can still access the apps, new downloads are blocked across both iOS and multiple Android platforms.
Blued, Finka join growing list of banned LGBTQ+ platforms in China
The removal underscores China’s tightening grip on LGBTQ+ expression and civil liberties. Though homosexuality was decriminalised in the 1990s, same-sex marriage remains unrecognized, and the Chinese Communist Party has dramatically increased restrictions on the community in recent years. Major gay rights organizations have been forced to close, while social media companies aggressively censor LGBTQ+ content and accounts. Grindr disappeared from Apple’s Chinese storefront in 2022.Blued boasted over 49 million registered users and 6 million monthly active users as of 2020, according to Wired. This past July, the platform abruptly suspended new registrations without explanation, triggering a black market where users paid up to $20 for secondhand accounts before access was restored in mid-August.Both platforms operate under BlueCity, now owned by Hong Kong-based social media firm Newborn Town following a 2022 acquisition. Beyond dating services, BlueCity runs healthcare initiatives and a nonprofit dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.It remains uncertain whether this ban is permanent. Some Chinese apps have previously returned to app stores after implementing government-mandated modifications, though no timeline has been indicated for Blued or Finka.
