Tencent says criticism of its dominance in social media is ‘groundless’ after its WeChat app blocks three rivals

Links to three social media apps launched on Jan 15

Criticism of Tencent’s dominance after it blocked three potential rival apps from its WeChat super app were “groundless”, according to private remarks by Tencent’s head of public relations that were reported by Chinese media on Thursday.

Links to three social media apps launched on Jan 15 – Matong, Duoshan and Liaotianbao – were blocked from opening within WeChat’s browser for “containing unsafe content and receiving user complaints”, according to Tencent, prompting an immediate rebuke from the challengers.