HONG KONG, May 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Newborn Town, a rising social networking company, has garnered significant attention in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market. Known for its innovation in live voice chat platforms and social entertainment products, this Hong Kong-based tech company has made remarkable strides. This article explores the secrets behind Newborn Town’s success in the MENA region.
MENA’s Social Media Craze Sparks Market Potential
The MENA region has become a focal point for several social media and entertainment companies, as the area’s high fertility rate and young demographic structure generate substantial demand for socialization. The statistics from OCED revealed that the average age of countries like Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the UAE is around 31 years, creating a vast user base for social and entertainment products. Religious restrictions have further driven young people to online social networking and entertainment, creating a significant market void.
MENA boasts the highest social media usage globally, with each person maintaining an average of 8.4 social media accounts and spending at least 3.5 hours daily on these platforms. This high level of social interaction and the users’ strong desire to flaunt their wealth present lucrative monetization opportunities for social applications.
Filling the Market Gap
A majority of foreign social media companies, including Newborn Town, have successfully filled this market gap by catering to the young population’s structure, high entertainment demands, keen interest in social networking, and willingness to pay. These companies have tailored their social products to meet market needs, resulting in rapid market performance improvements and demonstrating their global potential.
According to Newborn Town’s 2023 annual result, the company achieved a total revenue of approximately 3.308 billion yuan, an 18% year-over-year increase. The net profit was around 761 million yuan, a 165% year-over-year increase. Adjusted EBITDA reached 675 million yuan, up 80% year-over-year. The net profit attributable to shareholders was 513 million yuan, reflecting a 294% year-over-year increase.
Key Determinants to NBT’s Success
Innovation and localization strategies play a significant role in Newborn Town’s success. For instance, MICO, Newborn Town’s flagship social product, has its interface customized to reflect Middle Eastern cultural features, using symbols like falafel and hummus to encourage user engagement.
Additionally, Newborn Town has designed diverse paid features within its apps to meet the specific demands of Middle Eastern users. For example, TopTop allows users to chat and play Dominoes and Ludo with others in online virtual rooms, catering to their entertainment and socializing needs at once. These localized features have improved user interaction and increased customer retention.
Besides apps that combine social networking and gaming scenarios, live voice chat platforms are also viral in the MENA region. As of September 2023, eight voice chat room apps were among the top 100 global entertainment apps in terms of daily revenue.
YoHo, Newborn Town’s flagship audio-based social product, has gained immense popularity in the MENA region due to its tailored features. These features cater to some users’ unwillingness to show their faces during online social networking, providing a platform for interaction without compromising modesty.
Recognizing the “chatty” nature of MENA users, YoHo introduced the “family” function, enabling like-minded individuals to form online communities and interact more closely.
Future Prospects
Mordor Intelligence projects the Middle Eastern media and entertainment market to grow from $42.72 billion in 2024 to $66.99 billion in 2028. Undoubtedly, this trend has opened a new chapter for foreign tech companies like Newborn Town to pursue opportunities and capture market share in the MENA region.
Newborn Town’s success in the MENA region would not have been possible without its diverse and innovative product offerings. As technology evolves, Newborn Town will need to continue iterating its products to tackle future challenges and maintain its competitive edge.