Tencent beefs up range of content on super app WeChat by adding breaking news alerts

The new feature has been made available for testing to a small number of users after a recent system update

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During the new feature’s testing phase, a small number of WeChat users receive breaking news alerts on weather, finance, politics and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 9:00pm, 6 Aug 2024

Video gaming and social media giant Tencent Holdings is testing breaking news alerts on WeChat, as the Chinese super app bolsters its role as a major information platform for its more than 1.2 billion users.

The new feature has been made available for testing to a small number of users, some of whom said the breaking news bulletin – mostly from official media outlets on the mainland – can be seen via the app’s subscription account page after a recent system upgrade. The WeChat update was also reported by Chinese tech media outlets Sanyan and Jianshi.

Shenzhen-based Tencent did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

According to screenshots cited in the reports, some WeChat users received breaking news alerts on weather, finance, politics and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

WeChat competes against various social media apps on the mainland in providing day-to-day news to internet users. Photo: Shutterstock

Before the latest feature, WeChat users need to follow an organisation’s subscription account, a blog-like tool within the app, to receive posts that include news from media outlets. WeChat’s breaking news alerts will also show content from publishers that users do not follow.