The podcast discusses Instagram surpassing TikTok in app downloads, US plans for a Gaza port, a $12bn fraud trial in Vietnam, and the mysterious success of Temu in retail. Topics include Temu's business model, financial fraud in Vietnam, and the impact of corruption on investor confidence.
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Quick takeaways
Instagram surpassed TikTok in app downloads due to the popularity of its reels feature, showcasing the importance of adapting to trends in social media.
Temu's rapid growth and challenge to industry giants raise concerns over its questionable operational practices, transparency, and long-term sustainability.
Deep dives
Instagram Surpasses TikTok in 2023 Downloads
Instagram saw a 20% increase in downloads in 2023, outpacing TikTok's growth of 4%. The appeal of Instagram was boosted by its reels feature, allowing users to share short video clips, a concept adopted from TikTok.
Temu's Expansion and Success
Temu, an e-commerce platform owned by PDD Holdings, has rapidly expanded its market presence by launching in 49 countries and doubling revenues in the last quarter. Despite its secretive operations, Temu's aggressive advertising strategies have propelled it to challenge Alibaba and possibly match Amazon's size.
Challenges and Opacity Surrounding Temu
Temu's operational model raises concerns due to its minimal financial disclosure and limited transparency on partners and logistics. Investors are intrigued by its growth but cautious about the sustainability and accountability of the business, drawing comparisons to previous fraudulent cases in American-listed Chinese companies.
Instagram overtook TikTok in new app downloads last year, US President Joe Biden announced a plan to set up a port on the coast of Gaza to help facilitate aid delivery to the enclave, anda huge corruption case in Vietnam has captured the country’s attention. Plus, the FT’s Dan McCrum unpacks the mystery behind how Temu took over the retail world. Credit: Temu
The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.