Tech Startup Gan Jing World Poised to Shape the Future, One Community at a Time

Gan Jing World's logo in the lobby of its first headquarters building, dubbed "MT0" or "Middletown Zero," in Middletown, N.Y., on June 22, 2023. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

Gan Jing World, a high-tech startup, has become a growing force in upstate New York, in a community looking to transition to a technology hub. Gan Jing means clean, and the platform is committed to providing content “free from violent, erotic, criminal or harmful material,” according to its website.

Joseph DeStefano, mayor of Middletown, the city where Gan Jing World is headquartered, has high hopes for the company, which he described as “a next-generation digital ecosystem for everyone” with “unlimited growth projections.”

“As a forward-thinking city, we recognize the importance of embracing technological advancements and supporting industries that will shape the future,” he said at the opening ceremony when Gan Jing World unveiled its newly renovated headquarters building, called MT0 or Middletown Zero, on June 22.

He also thanked the company for keeping its promises by quickly growing and opening the new facility. In less than a year, the social media platform has achieved over 30 million page views and built its own data center and cloud server to facilitate an experience free from political censorship.

“In addition to the economic impact, the presence of this high-tech firm will bring further opportunities for collaboration and innovation,” he added. “We envision a future where the firm actively engages with our local ecosystem, sharing expertise, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting the growth of other startups in the region.”

Joseph DeStefano, mayor of Middletown, speaks at the opening ceremony of Gan Jing World's first headquarters building, dubbed "MT0" or "Middletown Zero," in Middletown, N.Y., on June 22, 2023. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

The entrepreneurial spirit at Gan Jing World’s event was evident. Guests expressed excitement about growth, job creation, and using technology for good.

To Councilman Neil Meyer of the nearby town of Wallkill, Gan Jing World fits his vision for the future.

He told The Epoch Times that he wanted to create more high-tech professional jobs and “ensure that we have a good living wage base within our communities that pay taxes and can support the development of infrastructure to support businesses like [Gan Jing World] coming into our area.”

Nick Janicki (L), director of media relations, Jim Zhang (C), vice president of public relations, and chief financial officer Cheyenne Liu of Gan Jing World hold proclamations from New York state Assemblyman Karl A. Brabenec, New York state Senator James Skoufis, and Pennsylvania state Senator Devlin Robinson at the company's opening ceremony of its first headquarters building, dubbed "MT0" or "Middletown Zero," in Middletown, N.Y., on June 22, 2023. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times

‘Right Thing at the Right Time’

Gan Jing World was founded by Chinese Americans in New York last year. During the pandemic, lockdowns accelerated internet use, and many parents became concerned about their children being exposed to explicit content and wasting time due to addiction.

A 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center shows universal use of social media by American teenagers ages 13 to 17. Up to 95 percent of teens report using at least one social media platform, and over a third use social media “almost constantly.”

Last month, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new advisory on social media and youth mental health, urging “action to ensure social media environments are healthy and safe.”

“The most common question parents ask me is, ‘Is social media safe for my kids.’ The answer is that we don’t have enough evidence to say it’s safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health,” Murthy said in a statement.

The advisory (pdf) acknowledged some potential benefits of social media, including providing a platform for self-expression and developing social connections. Yet it also documented risks of harm from content exposure and excessive use.

“Extreme, inappropriate, and harmful content continues to be easily and widely accessible by children and adolescents. This can be spread through direct pushes, unwanted content exchanges, and algorithmic designs,” the report stated.

By creating and maintaining a platform without violent, erotic, criminal, or harmful content, Gan Jing World provides a healthy and safe digital environment, one such that the U.S. Surgeon General called for, says Nick Janicki, Gan Jing’s director of media relations. The platform also allows users to set up learning preferences for the company’s algorithm to follow when recommending videos.

“Gan Jing World is doing the right thing at the right time,” Janicki told The Epoch Times. He added that the company’s uniqueness stems from having clean content and educating consumers on how social media algorithms and addiction work and how they can be used for consumers’ benefit.

From Middletown, Gan Jing World sets out to uplift more communities, virtual and live, one at a time, said Janicki. And he is inviting all to do it together.

“If you care about the future of America, come to Gan Jing World. If you care about the next generations, come to Gan Jing World. If you believe in traditional values and divine culture, come to Gan Jing World. It’s a platform for you.”