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Bigo Live

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Bigo Live
The logo of Bigo Live
Type of site
Live streaming
Available in23 languages
OwnerBigo Technology (JOYY)
Founder(s)David Li
URLwww.bigo.tv Edit this at Wikidata
CommercialYes/No
RegistrationYes
Users500 million
LaunchedMarch 2016; 9 years ago (2016-03)
Current statusActive

Bigo Live is a global social live streaming platform owned by BIGO Technology based in Singapore, which was founded in 2014 by David Li. As of 2019, Bigo Technology is owned by JOYY Inc.[1][2][3]

Viewers are able to support their favorite broadcasters with in-app gifts,[4] and some popular broadcasters use the app as a full-time employment.[5] BIGO Technology owns Likee, the short video creation and sharing app.[6][7]

History

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David Li was a journalist prior to entering the technology industry. In 2014, Bigo was founded in Singapore.[8]

The live streaming platform was officially launched in March 2016 and is available on both iOS and Android operating systems.[9][10] In April 2016, just a month after its launch, Bigo Live became the most downloaded app in Thailand.[11]

In November 2019, monthly active users of the company's apps reached over 350 million globally.[12]

In March 2020, Bigo Live ranked 6th in the United States and 5th worldwide for streaming apps based on total in-app purchase revenue.[13][14] According to Forbes, Bigo Live was considered one of the top social media apps of 2020.[15][16]

In May 2020, Bigo Live launched a partnership with Bark, an online safety product, to keep kids safe online.[17][18]

In June 2021, Bangladesh police arrested five people, including a Bigo Operation Manager from China, over alleged money laundering and blackmail related to the app.[19] Bigo has been actively cooperating with local authorities to address and resolve these issues, reaffirming its commitment to compliance and community standards.

In 2022, Bigo Live announced the launch of ‘Community,’ a new interactive feature that allows users to create and manage online communities, as well as post and share original content with other platform users who share similar interests.[20][21][22]

In May 2023, Bigo Live expanded its product distribution by integrating its platform into the Microsoft Store.[23]

In November 2023, Bigo Live announced collaborations with Checkout.com and Visa to streamline international payments for content creators in the UK, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.[24][25]

A January 2024 Data AI report stated Bigo Live was the second-highest-grossing social app globally in 2023, with its monthly active users increasing by 4.5% to 38.4 million in the last quarter of that year.[26]

On 8 December 2024, the New York Times published a report on the use of live-streaming apps "downloaded from Apple and Google" for paid sexual exploitation of children, including Bigo Live. In a statement to the Times, the company said it had taken "appropriate action" on the cases mentioned in the Times article, "including account suspension and content removal". Bigo said it was "deeply committed to protecting user safety".[27]

Partnerships

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In 2020, Bigo Live announced a partnership with The Trevor Project, an organization focused on suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ youth, and donated $10,000 to their crisis intervention services.[28][29]

In 2023, BIGO Technology offered support and resources to Singapore-based startups looking to expand into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.[30]

In 2023, MAC Cosmetics Philippines and Bigo Live Philippines collaborated on a talent search competition called "Slay Model Search Asia," which aimed to promote inclusivity and celebrate the transgender community.[31]

In 2024, Bigo Live held a "Bigo Live for Good" Ramadan charity event in Indonesia, donating over IDR100 million to Yayasan Kasih Anak Kanker Indonesia (a foundation supporting children with cancer) and Panti Asuhan Annajah (an orphanage).[32] They also distributed hampers worth IDR19.4 million. At the same year, the Singapore-based streaming company BIGO reportedly aimed for a $500 million investment in Saudi Arabia to support Vision 2030.[33]

In 2024, a gossip columnist Perez Hilton cohosted Bigo's Most Talented with TV personality Natalie Nunn.[34]

Operations

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Bigo Live is a global platform for live video broadcasting, enabling users to share content, demonstrate talents, and interact with a global audience through real-time communication and virtual gifting.[35] The app operates in over 150 countries, emphasizing social interaction and community development among its users.[36]

A key aspect of Bigo Live's operation is the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance user experiences, such as through the use of 3D avatars.[37] The platform has also been recognized for its role in building communities, notably providing a space for Black queer creators to connect and collaborate.[38] Furthermore, Bigo Live offers income-generating opportunities for broadcasters through virtual gifts and a performance-based host program.[39][40]

References

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  1. ^ "China's YY eyes overseas live streaming with $1.45B Bigo buyout". TechCrunch. 5 March 2019. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. ^ "YY Announces Completion of Acquisition of Bigo". ir.yy.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Why young Indians are live streaming on social media". Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Apps you've never heard of that your teen is already using". CNN. 25 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Video app TikTok's India download ban worries wider tech industry". Reuters. 17 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Likee launches Independence Day campaign for Indians across the globe". The Asian Age. 13 August 2019.
  8. ^ Ludbe, Gauri (11 June 2024). "Building a Creator-Centric Ecosystem: Tony Zhu Discusses Unicorn BIGO Technology's Strategies". AsiaTechDaily - Asia's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem". www.techinasia.com. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  10. ^ Writers, KrASIA (6 June 2018). "Interview with Bigo: How a Chinese live streaming service successfully replicated itself in Southeast Asia markets". KrASIA. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Bigo brings gaming app to Thailand". Bangkok Post. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Singapore-based Likee, led by a former factory worker, is gaining ground on TikTok". South China Morning Post. 18 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Bigo Live Is A Live Streaming Platform | PDF | Multimedia | Electronic Publishing". Scribd. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  14. ^ "BIGO Live App Review: What Parents Need to Know". Mobicip. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  15. ^ Bellan, Rebecca. "The Top Social Media Apps Of 2020, According To Apptopia". Forbes. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  16. ^ Salz, Peggy Anne. "Striking Gold In The Global Livestreaming Creator Economy: A Q&A With BIGO Technology's Mike Ong". Forbes. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  17. ^ Zapal, Haley (19 May 2020). "Bark Partners With BIGO LIVE App". Bark. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  18. ^ Rowland, Mark (28 November 2024). "BIGO LIVE: Everything You Need To Know". Stream Hatchet. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Likee, Bigo Live apps used to launder over Tk100cr: CID". The Business Standard. 13 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Bigo Live to livestream The Game Awards 2022 across more than 10 global markets | INN". investingnews.com. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  21. ^ "Bigo Live Launches Community Feature to Facilitate the Growth of Support Systems". Crystal Magazine (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  22. ^ Ludbe, Gauri (11 June 2024). "Building a Creator-Centric Ecosystem: Tony Zhu Discusses Unicorn BIGO Technology's Strategies". AsiaTechDaily - Asia's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  23. ^ "符合「Partnerships」新聞搜尋結果 (頁：179 / 214) - 台灣產經新聞網". 台灣產經新聞網. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  24. ^ "BIGO partners with Checkout.com and Visa". thepaypers.com. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Cujobay - BIGO, Checkout.com, and Visa Enhance Content Creator Earnings". www.cujobay.com. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  26. ^ Ludbe, Gauri (11 June 2024). "Building a Creator-Centric Ecosystem: Tony Zhu Discusses Unicorn BIGO Technology's Strategies". AsiaTechDaily - Asia's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  27. ^ Keller, Michael H. (8 December 2024). "On These Apps, the Dark Promise of Mothers Sexually Abusing Children". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Bigo Live, ANTRA & Equality Project Celebrate Mardi Gras Inclusion of LGBTQIA+". The Taiwan Times. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Bigo Live Continues Commitment to The Trevor Project, Raises Awareness Around International Transgender Day of Visibility | Positively Positive". www.positivelypositive.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  30. ^ Nov 3; News, 2023 | Indiplomacy. "An Open Invitation to Do Business in Jordan | Indiplomacy". Retrieved 5 May 2025. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ "MAC Cosmetics and Bigo Live PH join forces to promote inclusivity with talent search competition". Marketing-Interactive. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Bigo Live spreads good with community efforts in Indonesia". Marketing-Interactive. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  33. ^ Zyl, Gareth van (11 March 2024). "Singapore streaming outfit BIGO targets $500m investment in Saudi Arabia". Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  34. ^ Hilton, Perez (18 January 2024). "Meow! Catfight Between Natalie Nunn & Perez Hilton At The Bigo Awards 2024!". Perez Hilton. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  35. ^ Stories, Local (26 March 2025). "Meet Trac Trac | Bigo live streamer". SHOUTOUT LA. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  36. ^ Ludbe, Gauri (11 June 2024). "Building a Creator-Centric Ecosystem: Tony Zhu Discusses Unicorn BIGO Technology's Strategies". AsiaTechDaily - Asia's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  37. ^ Schiff, Allison (17 August 2020). "For Livestreaming App BIGO Live, The Road To Revenue Is Paved With In-App Purchases". AdExchanger. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  38. ^ "Meet Social Media's Secret Black Gay Underground, Bigo Live". Lifewire. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  39. ^ Rowland, Mark (28 November 2024). "BIGO LIVE: Everything You Need To Know". Stream Hatchet. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  40. ^ Reporter, Danica Samuel Staff (26 March 2021). "How Bigo Live is creating an online environment without toxic content for creators to flourish on". Toronto Star. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
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