Bangladesh, Nov. 11 -- Chinas quiet yet decisive removal of its two largest gay dating platforms-Blued and Finka-from the Apple App Store marks the latest escalation in Beijings tightening control over LGBTQ+ expression and digital spaces. The decision, first reported by Wired and later confirmed by Apple, illustrates how Chinas evolving political priorities, demographic anxieties, and ideological campaigns are converging on a community already under growing pressure.

While the apps remain functional for existing users, their disappearance from the store signals a broader message: LGBTQ+ visibility and community-building tools are increasingly unwelcome in an environment where the state-in its push to solidify “traditional family v...