Last Updated:

2024-03-18 23:24:21

WeChat

Chinese multi-functional app

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Chinese multi-functional app

WeChat, known as Weixin in Chinese, is a versatile Chinese app offering messaging, social media, and mobile payment services. Launched in 2011, it reached over 1 billion monthly users by 2018. WeChat is considered a super-app due to its diverse features including messaging, voice and video calls, gaming, and more. The app has different terms and storage locations based on user registration with Chinese numbers managed under Weixin and non-Chinese numbers under WeChat. Weixin accounts are subject to strict censorship and surveillance by Chinese authorities. WeChat faced bans in India and the U.S., with Trump's attempt blocked by a court order and Biden later rescinding the ban.

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1994

Founding of Foxmail

In 1994, Allen Zhang finished his master’s degree and founded Foxmail, which became China’s #1 free internet client with about 5 million users, giving it a 33% market share in China.

2005

Acquisition of Foxmail by Tencent

In 2005, Foxmail was bought by Tencent, and Allen Zhang wound up at Tencent. This acquisition was seen as a way to strengthen Tencent’s existing QQ Mail offering.

2010-10-19

Launch of Kik Messenger

On October 19, 2010, Kik Messenger was released on Android, iPhone, and Blackberry, gaining over 1 million downloads within 15 days. This led to the inspiration for the development of WeChat.

2011-01-21

Launch of Weixin 微信

Weixin 微信 was officially launched in China as a simple messaging and photo-sharing app. It became an instant hit and reached over 100 million registered users in 433 days.

2012-03

Exceeding 100 Million Registered User Accounts

By March 2012, WeChat had surpassed 100 million registered user accounts, achieving this milestone just 433 days after its launch. The rapid growth of WeChat users was closely linked to the increasing smartphone usage in China.

2012-07

Tencent opens up WeChat to brands accounts

In July 2012, Tencent allowed brands to create accounts on WeChat, marking a significant step in the international expansion of the app.

2013-05

Introduction of WeChat Red Envelopes

During the 2013 Chinese New Year celebration, WeChat enabled users to send red envelopes to their friends, leading to a significant increase in WeChat Pay users from 30 million to 100 million.

2013-06

Indian Intelligence Bureau flags WeChat for security concerns

In June 2013, the Indian Intelligence Bureau raised security concerns about WeChat, leading to debates in India about the possibility of banning the app due to potential data collection and privacy issues.

2013-08

WeChat Pay Online Debut

In August, WeChat Pay was launched, introducing the mobile payments feature and solidifying WeChat's position as one of the leading cashless payment apps.

2013-09

WeChat Block in Iran

In September 2013, WeChat was blocked in Iran due to concerns over WeChat Nearby (Friend Radar) and the spread of pornographic content.

2013-12

Global Promotion Campaign for WeChat

At the end of the year, WeChat initiated a large-scale promotional campaign with TV ads and out-of-home billboards, featuring renowned celebrities like football player Messi, to expand its global presence.

2014-01-02

Investment in Didi and Partnership with WeChat Pay

In January 2014, WeChat invested in Didi and announced a partnership where users could directly order a taxi using Didi’s service through WeChat Pay, leading to a significant increase in WeChat Pay adoption.

2014-06-10

Tencent shuts down WeChat accounts for prostitution services

Tencent shut down 20 million WeChat accounts, which accounted for five percent of the total users, due to offering prostitution services. Additionally, 30,000 public fake accounts were also closed. This action was part of the 'Thunder Strike' shutdown following the Chinese government's initiative to clean up instant messaging services like WeChat.

2014-12-21

Weixin's Influence on Entertainment and Consumer Interaction

Weixin, a popular app in China, has revolutionized the way people consume entertainment and interact with brands. It has allowed users to access a wide range of entertainment and services, from buying plane tickets to interacting with brands directly. Companies like Burberry and Oreo have successfully utilized Weixin to engage with consumers through innovative campaigns and interactive features.

2014-12-31

WeChat Announcement on Web Page Sharing Restrictions

In 2014, WeChat announced that web pages wanting to be shared in WeChat Moments needed to obtain an Internet Content Provider (ICP) license by 31 December 2014 to avoid being restricted by WeChat.

2015-01

Launch of New Promotional Form

In January 2015, a new promotional form was introduced on WeChat to compete for users' attention, providing brands with a new way to engage with their audience.

2015-03

WeChat Reaches Half a Billion Users

In March 2015, WeChat achieved a significant milestone by reaching half a billion users, indicating its widespread popularity and influence.

2016-01

Launch of WeChat Out

In January 2016, Tencent launched WeChat Out, a VOIP service that allows users to call mobile phones and landlines globally. It initially started in the United States, India, and Hong Kong, and later expanded to other countries.

2016-04

Launch of WeChat Enterprise

In April 2016, WeChat launched WeChat Enterprise, offering work-related features to cater to the increasing use of WeChat for business purposes.

2017-05-06

Russia's Temporary Ban on WeChat

On May 6, 2017, Russia blocked access to WeChat for failing to provide its contact details to the Russian communications watchdog, but the ban was lifted on May 11, 2017 after Tencent provided the required information.

2018-01-04

WeChat Unblocked in Iran

On 4 January 2018, WeChat was unblocked in Iran after a period of censorship.

2018-08-16

WeChat evolves into a hybrid social network

WeChat evolved into a hybrid social network with the introduction of sharing services, blog-like Official Accounts, and a games publishing platform. The platform also added payments in 2013 and 'Official Accounts' in 2013, transforming WeChat into a full-service platform. WeChat's Red Packet, developed in 2014, became an overnight sensation during the holiday period.

2019-01-03

Makeover of Key Party-run Newspapers

On January 3, 2019, the WeChat public account 'Media Observer' reported that several key Party-run newspapers, including People’s Daily, Nanfang Daily, and Zhejiang Daily, underwent makeovers at the start of the year, including page reductions and the introduction of new columns and features.

2019-01-05

WeChat as a Platform for Exposing Malfeasance in China

In 2019, David Bandurski wrote in the China Media Project about the potential of WeChat to provide an avenue for writers and journalists to expose malfeasance in China, particularly under the leadership of Xi Jinping. This was highlighted by the exposure of alleged malpractices by companies marketing drug regimens and tainted vaccines, as well as the makeover of key Party-run newspapers.

2020-06-17

Release of WeChat Nudge Feature

On 17 June 2020, WeChat introduced a new add-on called 'WeChat Nudge', allowing users to virtually shake each other's profile photo and send a vibration notification, similar to the features in MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger.

2020-08-06

WeChat Included in Executive Order

On August 6, 2020, President Trump's executive order targeted WeChat, dictating similar actions as the TikTok order but focusing on the WeChat app and related transactions for Tencent.

2020-08-14

Gao Zhigang's Conviction for Forwarding Video via Weixin

On August 14, 2020, Radio Free Asia reported that Gao Zhigang forwarded a video using Weixin and was later convicted of the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, showing the direct monitoring of Weixin users by Chinese authorities.

2020-09-18

Department of Commerce Orders to Enact Ban on WeChat

On September 18, 2020, the Department of Commerce issued orders to enact the ban on WeChat by the end of September 20, 2020, citing national security and data privacy concerns.

2020-09-20

Preliminary Injunction Blocking WeChat Ban

On September 20, 2020, Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Department of Commerce order on WeChat based on respective lawsuits filed by US WeChat Users Alliance, citing the merits of the plaintiffs' First Amendment claims.

2021-06-09

Executive Order Revoking the Ban on WeChat

On June 9, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order revoking the ban on WeChat and TikTok.

2021-07-06

Crackdown on LGBTQ Accounts in China

On July 6, 2021, several WeChat accounts associated with China's university campuses LGBTQ movement were blocked and then deleted without warning, sparking concerns over freedom of expression and speech.

2022-01-16

Addition of Major Functions in WeChat Update

On January 16, 2022, a new version of WeChat added seven major functions for iOS 8.0.17, Android 8.0.18, or newer version users, including the Personal Information Authority function to check the number of times personal information has been edited in the past year.

2022-03-30

Standardization of WeChat Public Platform for Virtual Currency Transactions

On March 30, 2022, the WeChat public platform standardized the official account and mini program of secondary sales of digital collections to prevent the risk of publicity stunts in virtual currency transactions, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China.

2023-06-01

Montana Ban on Installation of WeChat on Government Devices

Since June 1, 2023, Montana banned the installation of WeChat on government devices.

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