The new “Beeto” app, a multi-diverse content social media platform dedicated to users in the Arab world, has spread like wildfire despite the abundance of social media apps.
Captivating the attention of Arab users, Beeto is being branded by many as the Arabic version of Twitter. But Beeto CEO Jack Chen rejected these claims, saying the app has no intentions of copying its competitors.
“It is not a replica of Twitter as it enjoys many unique characteristics… we will support and protect users as long as they express themselves freely without disturbing others,” said Chen, defending the app in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.
Admitting that all social media platforms are similar to some extent, Chen argued that Beeto brings something new to the table.
“Using Beeto, you will have a different feeling,” he promised.
“We did not build this platform on our own, but we did so alongside users,” noted Chen, adding that this has helped users feel that they are a part of Beeto.
Chen went on to emphasize that Beeto is a Chinese app and that it was launched in the Middle East because of the region’s vibrant cultural scene.
“We chose to focus our investments on the Middle East market because of its cultural richness … people here have a great desire to coexist in the same region, just as it is in China, for this reason, we sought this market as an opportunity for us,” he said.
Chen, who is also Beeto’s founding partner, revealed that the app has met astonishing success among Iraqis and Saudis.
Answering privacy concerns tied to the app, he reaffirmed that protecting the privacy of users remains a top priority at Beeto, and that global privacy standards concerning personal data are being implemented.
Sophisticated security and encryption methodologies are applied to provide a safe environment for Beeto users, he explained.
Beeto’s quick rise to popularity, according to Chen, is credited to the rich and interactive content it offers. Hosting the accounts of influencers, celebrities, and official entities has played a key role in driving traffic to the app.
“I would like to proudly announce that after only three days of officially launching the application, we ranked first in app stores in many countries and user feedback is very positive,” Chen told Asharq Al-Awsat.
When asked about ownership, he revealed that Beeto is a product of WEO Technology, a Chinese company he started with a group of friends.
With offices set up in Riyadh and Beijing, Beeto is eyeing expansion to other Arab countries.
“We are planning to open other offices in Egypt, Morocco and Lebanon,” Chen revealed.
As for why Riyadh was selected for opening the first branch in the Middle East, he cited a host of reasons that involved facilities Saudi Arabia offers to foreign investors.
“We have started from Riyadh for several main factors that included the ease of investment procedures for foreigners following reforms introduced by Vision 2030, the Saudi economy being the largest in the region and the Kingdom having advanced technical infrastructure,” he remarked.
