China’s president applauded 1B times on silly clapping game – CNET

19th National Congress Of The Communist Party Of China (CPC) - Opening Ceremony

A new game from Tencent lets you join party members in applauding Chinese president Xi Jinping.

Etienne Oliveau / Getty Images

Welcome to China, where there can never be enough love for its president.

As the country’s 19th Party Congress begins, Chinese tech giant Tencent has released a new game that lets users give Chinese president Xi Jinping a standing ovation from their couches, reports Bloomberg.

Called “Clap for Xi Jinping,” the game — in Chinese and only works on phones — is a tribute to the 19th Party Congress. First, it takes you to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, where the Congress is held and shows you a snippet (19 seconds, according to my timer) of Xi’s three-and-half-hour marathon speech yesterday. After that, you get 19 seconds to keep tapping on the “applaud” button for as many times as you can.

vCard QR Code

vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.

The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.

At the end of the 19 seconds, you’re told how many times you managed to clap and where you rank against other players. If you find yourself getting competitive, you’re given the option to try again, or even to share the game with your friends. At time of writing, more than a billion claps have been counted.

L to R: The game welcomes you with a photo of president Xi waving to a crowd clapping for him, then takes you to the Great Hall of the People where you get to clap to your heart’s content. The final page shows you how many claps you clocked and lets you invite friends to try and beat your record.

Screenshot by Zoey Chong/CNET

The new game isn’t a surprising move, given Tencent — along with other tech giants — have been on the Chinese government’s radar for negative talk posted by users on social media platforms. In the lead up to the Congress, the Chinese government strengthened censorship efforts, cracking down on dissent and other prohibited content.

While the Chinese government has long been known to shut out foreign media such as Facebook, Google and Twitter with its “Great Firewall,” local tech giants now find themselves having to deal with tougher laws too. This time, they have been handed penalties for failing to supervise content posted on social media platforms such as Chinese Twitter-esque service, Weibo, which has 340 million users, and Tencent’s WeChat (similar to WhatsApp), where there are nearly a billion users. For a while, the government had also barred users from comparing Xi to cartoon bear, Winnie the Pooh.

It’s Complicated: This is dating in the age of apps. Having fun yet?

Tech Enabled: CNET chronicles tech’s role in providing new kinds of accessibility.


πŸ• Top News in the Last Hour By Importance Score

# Title πŸ“Š i-Score
1 Skin expert warns 'most people' mistake deadly cancer for harmless bite – but there's one key difference EVERYONE should know 🟒 92 / 100
2 Government hackers are leading the use of attributed zero-days, Google says 🟒 85 / 100
3 The Rangers job is Mike Sullivan’s if he wants it β€” but it comes with questions πŸ”΄ 75 / 100
4 Conclave to elect new pope to begin on 7 May, Vatican says πŸ”΄ 72 / 100
5 Prices ease as warm weather curbs demand β€” TradingView News πŸ”΄ 70 / 100
6 America's most famous scientist sparks outrage among liberals after MAGA post πŸ”΄ 65 / 100
7 Moment selfie-hunting tourist is savagely attacked by a crocodile inside its zoo enclosure 'after mistaking the 15ft beast for a statue' πŸ”΅ 35 / 100
8 Katya Jones sparks Strictly exit concerns as she issues huge announcement πŸ”΅ 35 / 100
9 Ex-England international clashes with Baller League rival while playing for Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker's team on night six πŸ”΅ 30 / 100
10 Hot-Plate Heroes: How 5 Restaurants Work Wonders With No Kitchen πŸ”΅ 25 / 100

View More Top News ➑️