Category: Finka

The Rise and Censorship of Blued, Once the World’s Largest Gay Dating App

Posted on February 6, 2026
Logo of Blued

QUEERTY – Blued launched in 2012 and rapidly surpassed Grindr to become the world’s largest gay dating app by user count. Founded by former police officer Ma Baoli, the app expanded beyond dating into social networking and HIV-related public health services, became publicly listed, and reached a multimillion-dollar valuation. Beginning in 2021, a broader LGBTQ+ crackdown under Xi Jinping led to increased censorship of queer platforms. In late 2025, Blued and its youth-focused sister app Finka were removed from app stores in mainland China and remain unavailable as of early 2026, with users awaiting a possible return. Chinese writer Yi-Ling Liu documents Blued’s rise and subsequent censorship in her book The Wall Dancers. 

See full article at Queerty

Apple Pulls China’s Top Gay Dating Apps After Government Order

Posted on November 10, 2025
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WIRED – Apple has removed China’s two biggest gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its App Store after an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s top internet regulator. The apps are still functional for existing users but cannot be newly downloaded. Most foreign LGBTQ+ apps, including Grindr, are already blocked in China. The move highlights growing pressure on China’s LGBTQ+ community, which has faced mounting censorship and organizational shutdowns under tighter government control. Blued, once boasting 49M users and later merged with Finka under BlueCity, was bought by Newborn Town in 2022 after delisting from Nasdaq. Its founder and many longtime employees have since left. The app’s international version, HeeSay, remains available and popular in South and Southeast Asia. It’s unclear if Blued and Finka’s removal is temporary or permanent.

See full article at Wired

BlueCity’s He Health Launches Online Consultations

Posted on July 28, 2021

Bluecity logoPR NEWSWIRE – July 27 – He Health, BlueCity's health service platform for men, has officially launched its online consultation services with tens of doctors from China's top hospitals available during the launch phase. He Health focuses on male sexual health, STDs, and everyday health and nutrition. The online consultation function will enable users to access a full range of digital health services, including doctor consultations, medical guidance, testing and health report analysis, and health management.

See full article at PR Newswire

BlueCity Appoints Alfred Chung-Chieh Ying as Chief Strategy Officer

Posted on July 16, 2021

Bluecity logo 2021PR NEWSWIRE – July 15 – Mr. Ying brings with him over 20 years of capital market experience and extensive knowledge in corporate finance, capital raising, business development, and strategy. Prior to joining BlueCity, he served as CFO at Healthever Biotech and iFresh. Available in 13 languages, Blued connects users in 170 countries and it is the largest online LGBTQ community in China, India, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. BlueCity's portfolio of brands also includes Finka, a leading gay social networking app for a younger generation in China, and LESDO, a leading lesbian social networking app in China.

See full article at PR Newswire

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BlueCity Q1 Results 2021: Revenue up 31%

Posted on June 10, 2021

Bluecity logo 2021GLOBE NEWSWIRE – June 10 – BlueCity's Q1 revenues reached RMB271.1M ($41.4M), up 30.7% YOY. Net loss was RMB52.1M ($7.9M), compared with net loss of RMB7.6M in Q1 2020. Monthly active users of BlueCity's portfolio apps reached 8.3M, up 37.5% YOY. Total paying users reached 640K, up 47.8% YOY. Revenues from live streaming services reached RMB219.9M ($33.6M), up 22.4% YOY. Revenues from membership services reached RMB26.4M ($4M), up 75.9% YOY. Revenues from advertising services reached RMB12M ($1.8M), from merchandise sales of "He Health" RMB11.4M ($1.7M). BlueCity's portfolio apps include Blued, LESDO and Finka.

See full article at Globe Newswire

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BlueCity’s He Health Obtains Internet Hospital License

Posted on April 20, 2021

Bluecity logoPR NEWSWIRE – Apr 20 – He Health, the BlueCity's health service platform for men, has officially obtained an Internet hospital license in China, presenting great prospects for the brand's nascent, yet fast-growing health business. BlueCity can now offer a complete set of health services from men's health consultations. Since its launch in March 2019, He Health has promoted awareness of men's health and HIV prevention, and its services have gradually expanded from sexually transmitted diseases to the field of men's everyday wellbeing. BlueCity's mobile app Blued enables users to conveniently and safely connect with each other, express themselves and access professional health-related services. BlueCity's portfolio of brands of apps also includes Finka, a leading gay social networking app for a younger generation in China, and LESDO, a leading lesbian social networking app in China.

See full article at PR Newswire

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Chinese Gay Dating App Blued to Acquire Finka for $36.5M

Posted on November 25, 2020

Blued finka unionCGTN – Nov 25 – BlueCity, the parent company of Blued will acquire Finka, a leading gay social networking app in China targeting younger generations for 240M yuan ($36.5M). It's the second acquisition BlueCity has initiated since the company listed on Nasdaq in July. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions that are expected by mid-December. The company also bought LESDO, a dating app focused on China's lesbian community, in August. Finka had ~2.7M registered users in 2019. The majority of the app's users are born after 1995 and are from China's first-tier cities. The app allows users to establish social contact and share their daily life through features like matching, private message, posting moments and lifecasting. Blued now has 54M registered users.

See full article at CGTN

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