Recently, the "Xishan Education Payment" application was removed and shut down in Xishan District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. This marks the complete cancellation of all county-level and lower government service applications across Jiangsu province. Essential government service applications have been consolidated into the unified "Sufuban" platform. Some netizens commented that this move reduces burdens on grassroots levels and clears storage space on citizens' mobile devices.
Government applications were originally designed to enhance efficiency and facilitate public services. However, operational challenges have emerged, including applications that are built but rarely used, redundant development projects, high maintenance costs, and inconvenient user experiences. Grassroots officials often struggle with numerous check-in requirements and document submissions, while citizens complain about needing to download multiple disconnected applications for simple tasks like certification or payment processing.
The central government had already issued guidelines in 2023 addressing "formalism on fingertips." More recently, the State Council released standardized management measures for government mobile applications, emphasizing both burden reduction and empowerment at grassroots levels while combating superficial digital projects. The message is clear: government applications must demonstrate practical utility, with unnecessary or counterproductive applications being either eliminated or integrated.
The management measures specifically prohibit five problematic practices: redundant data collection from grassroots units; mandatory functions like clock-in systems and ranking mechanisms; forced installation and usage rate evaluations; using engagement metrics as performance indicators; and commercial activities through government applications. These prohibitions resonate with many who have experienced digital bureaucracy firsthand.
When digital governance becomes distorted, it essentially represents the migration of formalism into the online sphere, making regulatory intervention essential. More applications don't necessarily mean better service, particularly for grassroots institutions where layered systems create unnecessary administrative burdens. This explains why the measures explicitly restrict application development below the county level.
As offline government services become increasingly centralized, similar consolidation must occur in digital spaces. Merging similar applications into efficient, integrated platforms enhances data interoperability, breaks down departmental barriers, improves service efficiency, and strengthens security for both personal information and public data through centralized management.
After streamlining, government applications must focus on usability and practicality. Adopting user-centered design principles, prioritizing citizen satisfaction, continuously optimizing content, and innovating services will ensure that digital governance brings genuine improvements rather than bureaucratic complications.