LayarHijau — Hongguo, a short drama app from China, is the talk of Taiwan. Some netizens say they only meant to watch for a few minutes, only to look up and find it was already morning. Others say Netflix has been left on the back burner.
Hongguo was developed by ByteDance and is free to watch. It earns revenue mainly through advertising. According to Taiwanese outlet NOWNEWS (via SETN), each episode typically runs only 1 to 3 minutes, but the plot is packed with conflict and twists. Popular genres include characters who are reborn, revenge stories, and tales of dominant, wealthy bosses.
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Episodes often end at the most suspenseful moment. Autoplay and algorithmic recommendations make it hard for viewers to stop.
QuestMobile data shows that as of July 2026, Hongguo had 168 million daily active users. That is more than the combined daily active users of China’s four major long-form video platforms: Tencent Video, iQiyi, Youku, and Mango TV. Other data shows that average daily usage time reached 125 minutes in February 2026.
On Threads, Taiwanese netizens have been sharing their experiences. One joked that before a single Netflix episode ends, a short drama’s protagonist has already been reborn, taken revenge, divorced, and married in a flash. Others said they had planned to use their free time to read, exercise, or study English, but ended up spending it all on short dramas. They say that once you get used to them, it is hard to go back to longer series.
Some viewers admitted that watching late into the night leaves them drained the next day and throws off their daily plans. The fast pace and constant stimulation have also raised concerns about attention span and daily routines.
Short dramas are also popular among older viewers, including those made with artificial intelligence. Taiwanese psychiatrist Yang Congcai explained that this kind of content delivers instant gratification through quick emotional stimulation and simple, clear storylines. He said that reduced social contact after retirement and growing loneliness may make some older adults more reliant on this type of entertainment.
Whether Hongguo can truly replace Netflix and other long-form platforms remains to be seen. But the app has already captured the attention of a huge audience.
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