Likee

{{Infobox company

| name = Likee

| genre = Social-media app{{cite web |url=https://www.bgr.in/news/tiktok-becomes-the-top-downloaded-social-media-app-on-app-store-in-july-fails-to-beat-facebook-overall/ |title=TikTok becomes the top downloaded social media app on App Store in July, fails to beat Facebook overall |date=19 August 2019|work=BGR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828023341/https://www.bgr.in/news/tiktok-becomes-the-top-downloaded-social-media-app-on-app-store-in-july-fails-to-beat-facebook-overall/ |archive-date=28 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}
Video editing and sharing{{cite web |url= https://www.poconorecord.com/entertainmentlife/20190908/what-are-deepfake-videos|title=What are deepfake videos?|author=Paul Barnwell|date= 8 Sep 2019|work=Pocono Record}}

| logo = Likee.svg

| logo_size = 100px

| predecessor = LIKE video{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/technology/in-other-news/111019/how-social-media-can-leverage-the-festive-season-after-festival-sales.html|title=How social media can leverage the festive season after Festival Sales|date=11 Oct 2019|work=Deccan Chronicle}}

| owner = Bigo (JOYY){{cite web |url= https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/companies/170919/likee-to-support-underprivileged-talented-youth-with-likeedreams.html|title=Likee to support underprivileged talented youth with "Likeedreams" initiative|date= 17 Sep 2019|work=Deccan Chronicle}}

| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2017|1}}{{cite web |url= https://www.ibtimes.co.in/likee-complete-2-years-successful-journey-india-802424|title= Likee to complete 2 years of successful journey in India|date=26 Jul 2019|work=International Business Times}}

| products = Short video social platform{{cite web |url=https://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp?docTag=201908050700PRIMZONEFULLFEED7688951&feedID=600&press_symbol=52251825|title=YY to Announce Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results on August 13, 2019|date=5 August 2019|work=The New York Times}}

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

Likee ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|aɪ|k|iː}}; formerly LIKE) is a short-video creation and sharing app,{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/09/11/common-sense-media-shares-what-parents-need-teach-kids-about-deepfake-videos/|title= What parents need to teach kids about deepfake videos|author= Paul Barnwell|date=11 September 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}} available for iOS and Android operating systems. It is owned by Singaporean tech firm Likeme Pte. Ltd.,{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tiktok-india-analysis/video-app-tiktoks-india-download-ban-worries-wider-tech-industry-idUSKCN1RT1MX|title=Video app TikTok's India download ban worries wider tech industry|date=April 17, 2019|work=Reuters|language=en-UK}} whose parent company is JOYY Inc.{{Cite web|title=Singapore-based Likee, led by a former factory worker, is gaining ground on TikTok|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-based-likee-led-former-124305647.html|access-date=2020-06-30|website=sg.news.yahoo.com|language=en-SG|archive-date=3 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703123823/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-based-likee-led-former-124305647.html|url-status=dead}} The founder of Likee is Jason Hu, entrepreneur from Singapore, who previously worked for JOYY.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-18|title=Singapore-based TikTok challenger Likee gains ground in short video market|url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/apps-social/article/3080491/singapore-based-likee-led-former-factory-worker-gaining-ground|access-date=2020-06-30|website=South China Morning Post|language=en}}

The app's capabilities include visual effects, including 4D Magic and Dynamic Stickers, as well as video shooting and editing.{{cite web |url= https://english.jagran.com/technology/likee-creates-guinness-world-record-for-its-independence-day-campaign-10003629|title=Likee creates Guinness World Record for its Independence Day campaign|date=24 August 2019|work=Dainik Jagran}}{{cite web |url=https://www.asianage.com/business/companies/211019/spread-joy-this-diwali-with-likees-diwali-challenge-personalised-stickers.html|title=Spread joy this Diwali with Likee's Diwali challenge, personalised stickers|date=21 Oct 2019|work=The Asian Age}}

History

Likee was originally known as LIKE until mid-2019, when it was rebranded and redesigned.{{cite web |title=Popular video platform LIKE gets rebranded as Likee to improve user experience |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3454682 |website=Hindustan Times |date=12 June 2018 |publisher=HT Media Limited |access-date=23 April 2020}}

As of the second quarter of 2019, Likee's mobile monthly active users had reached 80.7 million.{{cite web |url= https://seekingalpha.com/article/4286483-yy-inc-bear-case-now-obsolete|title=YY Inc.: Bear Case Now Obsolete|date= 18 Aug 2019|work=Seeking Alpha |last1=Capital |first1=WY }}

In 2017, Likee was rated as one of Google Play's Best Entertainment Applications.{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/editorial_collection/promotion_topic_tp_holidayhub_2017|title=Best of 2017 - Android Apps on Google Play|website=Play Store|language=en-US}}

Features

The Likee mobile app allows users to easily create and edit videos using a variety of augmented reality effects.{{cite web|url= https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3454682|title= LIKE App's Shaping Magic Debuts Globally, Giv... |first=Taiwan|last=News|website=Taiwan News|date= 12 June 2018 }}

Privacy concerns

Likee has been criticized for privacy and inappropriate content.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/likee-video-app-a-paedophile-paradise-say-child-safety-experts/news-story/c586d604b7884337c2d2d714966cbaf7 |title=Kids app labelled 'paedophile's paradise' by experts |website=The Daily Telegraph |location=Sydney |url-access=subscription |date=29 October 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Dossetto |first1=Grant |title=Children At Risk On New App |url=https://knsiradio.com/2022/07/22/children-at-risk-on-new-app/ |publisher=KNSI |access-date=24 October 2022 |language=en |date=22 July 2022}}{{rs|date=October 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Brandon |title=Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office gives warning about dangerous apps |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-county-sheriffs-office-gives-warning-about-dangerous-apps-02-12-2020-190135581 |access-date=24 October 2022 |publisher=KOKH |date=12 February 2020 |language=en}}{{rs|date=October 2023}}

In response to privacy concerns, LIKEME Pte. Ltd. added parental control features in 2019,{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/inside-the-world-of-online-child-sex-abusers-20191019-p53277.html|title=Child predators target next-gen social media|author=Sally Rawsthorne|date=20 October 2019|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} allowing parents and guardians of Likee users to remotely control or restrict access to the app's content.{{cite web |url= http://www.businessworld.in/article/Likee-s-New-Parental-Controls-Feature-Empower-Parents-To-Filter-Content-Exposure-/30-09-2019-176915/|title= Likee's New Parental Controls Feature Empower Parents To Filter Content Exposure|date= 30 September 2019|work=Businessworld}} However, watchdog groups{{who|date=October 2023}} have described the parental controls as "ineffective".{{rs|date=October 2023}}

In June 2020, the Government of India banned Likee along with 58 other apps that were ultimately owned by Chinese companies such as TikTok, citing data and privacy issues, and added that it was a threat to the sovereignty and security of the country.{{Cite magazine|author=Rahul Shrivastava |date=June 30, 2020 |title=TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser among 59 Chinese apps banned by India as border tensions simmer in Ladakh|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/centre-announces-ban-chinese-apps-privacy-issues-1695265-2020-06-29|access-date=2020-07-21|magazine=India Today|language=en}} Border tensions in 2020 between India and China and subsequent deterioration of relations instigated the ban.{{cite news |title=India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat, Helo |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/india-bans-59-chinese-apps-including-tiktok-helo-wechat/articleshow/76694814.cms |access-date=24 October 2022 |work=The Economic Times |url-access=subscription |date=29 July 2020}}{{cite news |title=Full list of 59 Chinese apps banned by Indian govt |url=https://theprint.in/india/full-list-of-59-chinese-apps-banned-by-indian-govt/451254/ |publisher=ThePrint |date=June 29, 2020}}