The latest data reveals that, in the global search engine market in September 2016, Google-Global still takes up the largest percentage, which is 73.02% followed by 9.26 percent of Bing and 8.74% of Baidu.
Nevertheless, China has officially blocked all Google products like Google search, Gmail, Google Maps and more for as long as more than 2 years since 2014 May, which is the longest worst ever. Being the top one search engine in the world, the share of Google-China were only 30% before it is officially blocked in China.
As is stated by the news, China has moved on without Google. The main reason behind this is the localization of Chinese local site. Recent years, Baidu maps, 163mail and other substitute applications have been germinated and is designed to better match Chinese netizens’ needs and enjoy more popularity. The competitors of Google-China, gain lots of opportunities from Google’s withdrawal. Given growing Internet users in China, the market share of Baidu proves the potential and influence in China’s fast-growing digital market. It is fair to say that China is doing well without Google so far.
But from my point of view, both Google and China have been affected since Google is officially banned in China. According to industry estimates, China has suffered roughly 50 thousand of unemployment as Google gets out of China market, which includes advertising agency and personnel responsible for search engine optimization for websites. In addition, approximately 200 thousands individual website lose their channels of Internet promotion as Google is blocked in China.
Also, as Google quit China, China’s investment environment is also largely influenced. As a well-known high-tech corporation like Google is squeezed out, foreign enterprises may discredit investment climate in China as well as market returns and end up with giving up further investment in China. As China is trying to transfer from conventional economy to “new economy” in the long run, lack of advanced international technology might slow down the process.
However, Google may benefit from it’s staying out of China market. As China’s political system requires, it’s impossible to access some information that is against Chinese government and remarks that is trying to discredit China if it is trying to gain Chinese market. But as Google’s slogan “Don’t be evil” reveals, Google is definitely not going against its principle for business returns. In other words, Google may sacrifice its current Chinese market, but it gains international reputation and larger international market share.
It is fair to say that China’s current internet industry doesn’t need Google so far, but the long run effect is definitely inevitable. (423words)
Citation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_China#Ending_of_self-censorship
https://www.netmarketshare.com/search-engine-market-share.aspx?qprid=4&qpcustomd=0