HK's Reddit-like forum Lihkg temporarily removed from App Store

Online forum Lihkg was removed from App Store yesterday. It was reported that the removal was due to comments left by its members violated App Store's policies. However, after just one day of suspension, the app can be downloaded on the platform again. On 22 March, some users of Lihkg noticed that the app of the popular online forum in Hong Kong could not be found on App Store. Some netizens posted a photo on the forum, proving that the app had been removed already. It read, "Lihkg cannot be used anymore. Developers have removed that app from App Store." (《LIHKG 討論區 》已不再可用 開發人員已從App Store 移除此App。)

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE did conducted a quick search on App Store on Tuesday night and found the app was unavailable. Instead, the first result that showed was HKGolden, another popular online forum in the city. However, after a day, Lihkg's app can be found again on App Store.

The app was however available on Google Play. Additionally, iOS users with the app installed on the phone could still use the forum. They could also access the forum via desktop computer. According to a report from HK01, the management of Lihkg believed that some comments left by its users had violated the policies of App Store, leading to the removal of the app on the platform. MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to the forum for more details.

Lihkg is often referred to as “Hong Kong Reddit” and is a local popular online discussion forum. Launched in 2016, LIHKG covers topics such as current affairs, sports, travel, and entertainment through a local Hong Kong lens. The platform was ranked second in our Media Report in 2020, followed by Baby-Kingdom.com, a platform serving families with young children. From expecting parents seeking advice on what to do during pregnancy to those raising and taking care of toddlers as they grow, it has grown into a valued resource for those taking parenthood head on.

Hong Kong Discuss Forum gained the top spot in the report. Established in 2003, discuss.com.hk is one of the most popular forums – and one of the most frequently visited websites – in Hong Kong. Members of the HK Discuss are mainly adult, working class and are interested in exchanging ideas on news, entertainment, real estate, relationships, property and more. The site claims it reaches more than 10 million unique visitors per month.

Meanwhile, Apple also faced a worldwide outage. Its Apple Music, mobile App Store and Podcasts resumed services yesterday, after facing outages for a second consecutive day. The outage also impacted Mac App Store, users of Apple Card, Apple Books, iCloud Web Apps and Weather