CRI听力:Hongbao, Chinese Red Envelop Goes Digital

"Did you get a hongbao?" seems to be the question on everyone's lips these days. The tradition is as strong as ever.

But its origins are steeped in history. Long ago it was seen as a means of protecting children from evil spirits. That evolved into more general best wishes and a blessing on the young. Today it's regarded as a way of bestowing good fortune for the year ahead.

And as with all things, it seems - hongbao has gone digital, becoming a huge internet phenomenon.

The war is on to grab digital cash using your cellphone.

"I got 1.8 yuan, it's fun."

"I didn't get any, I am too slow."

Electronic or e-hongbao was launched by social networking services such as WeChat and Sina Weibo, and Internet companies like Alibaba and Baidu.

On WeChat for example, users can receive a hongbao sent by friends or companies. The money that arrives with the electronic hongbao is then deposited in your WeChat wallet.

The e-Hongbao can be sent to one person, or can be received by several people at the same time.

Let's face it, everyone wants to get money for free, but are these virtual monetary gifts overshadowing the true meaning of the holiday?

Family reunion, fireworks and dumplings: Chinese New Year is bursting with traditions. But when it comes to e-Hongbao, 45 year old social worker Guo Jing says it's just not the same.

"When I was young, the elder gave money to the younger generation wrapped in red paper, to wish them luck in the New Year. The amount of money is all about blessings, using round numbers like 50 and 100, not like the e-Hongbao on Wechat platform nowadays, where you can just pick up a few yuan."

But what impact will this new technological trend have on the true meaning of the holiday? Some older people complain that their young relatives are so obsessed with digital hongbao that what they do all day is check their mobile phones, when they are supposed to be spending quality time with their family.

Regardless of these criticisms, the e-Hongbao is still seen as a big business opportunity during the holiday season.

Online giants Tencent's Wechat, Baidu and Alibaba are all competing to see who can make their virtual Hongbao the most popular in the country.

WeChat says there were more than 1 billion transactions of electronic hongbao on Chinese New Year's Eve, last year.

And Alibaba says more than 100 million people were lured to a hongbao-grabbing promotion on the company's mobile online payment App.

Financial columnist, Li Bo, says online transactions and payments are the way of the future, and more money grabbing gimmicks will pop up as competition between internet service providers heats up.

"Hongbao is a good marketing tool for all companies, meanwhile, users can benefit from it, while getting to know their product. I see hongbao as a new type of advertisement. I think there will be more funny ways of giving and receiving hongbao with innovation, and as personalities add their dimension to the money game."

Inevitably, as the e-hongbao craze sweeps across all social platforms, scams and traps are sneaking in.

Some people have even fallen victim to scammers and suffered losses.

So remember - at the end of the day, the Chinese New Year holiday is supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy being with your family.

Don't let the e-hongbao, or any social media for that matter, take over your life.

Even so, if you are in the mood to have some fun, maybe you should probably check your phone right now, in case a Hongbao opportunity is waiting for you.

For CRI, I'm Min Rui.