With years of experience in the public opinion monitoring system industry, Mitong Public Opinion will elaborate on the current state of the online public opinion monitoring sector. As an industry leader, we classify domestic online public opinion monitoring systems into four main categories:

The first type consists of mainstream media outlets under transformation pressure, engaging in sideline businesses. They are highly sensitive to current affairs and changes in audience psychology. Focused primarily on post-incident analysis reports, their public opinion analysis business monitors social conditions and public sentiment. They bundle media-related “other” services while maintaining a public image. However, their legitimacy and fairness in providing public opinion monitoring services are controversial due to inherent conflicts of interest. Without core product support, their simple monitoring services lack competitiveness.

The second type includes various PR and online marketing companies. Lacking core proprietary products, they mainly rely on two monitoring methods: manual monitoring, and third-party systems accessed via user accounts. Their biggest drawbacks are low prices, incomplete coverage, and lack of targeted services. As the online environment improves and the state cracks down on paid post deletion, their business space has shrunk significantly.

The third type is established by public opinion research institutes at universities or academic institutions, operating commercially with analysis reports as their main business. Unable to obtain real-time information sources, they can only assess public opinion after it escalates into hot issues and provide advisory strategies for clients. In practice, clients often find such firms fail to solve real problems but instead exaggerate minor issues and escalate crises. Relevant cases can be found via Baidu searches.

The fourth type comprises software vendors providing product and technical services. These companies possess advanced internet big data collection and analysis technologies, offering dedicated monitoring system products and platform-based services to address clients’ practical needs. However, several issues exist within this segment:

First, insufficient operation and maintenance capabilities, excessive packaging, poor service awareness, and excessive hype.

Second, few companies boast complete product lines, core independent technologies, and intellectual property rights, resulting in weak R&D capacity. Fortunately, as client demands become more mature and rational, the impulsive and disorderly market is eliminating companies lacking core technologies or proper services. Those relying on deception will gradually withdraw from market competition.

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