According to the latest report released by the China Internet Network Information Center, the number of short video users reached 648 million by December 2018, accounting for about 78.2 percent of China's 829 million Internet users. Short video streaming has surpassed conventional online videos to become the second largest segment of the Internet industry after instant messaging.

Short videos and live broadcasts have grown in popularity among young people who enjoy the fun of sharing videos with their peers.

This year, 18.27 million people have watched educational videos on Bilibili, a popular Chinese online video platform which has provided 1.03 million live broadcasts for learning. Experts point out that it is common for adolescents to learn through mobile networks.

Short videos have been applied in many other fields. For instance, some traditional publishing agencies are using this method to showcase their latest books, looking to expand their reach.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Workers' Daily on May 6)