WeChat Reinstates "Public" Account Verification
Sohu IT, 11/22/12
A spokersperson for Tencent's (0700.HK) WeChat (Weixin) mobile messaging application has confirmed that the company has reinstated real-name verification for "public" WeChat accounts, typically used by companies and celebrities. The new verification system allows users to automatically verify their accounts through previously verified Sina (Nasdaq: SINA) Weibo and Tencent Weibo microblogging accounts. WeChat has recently been promoting celebrity and company accounts on the chat service. WeChat's public accounts platform allows WeChat users to "follow" celebrities and business, receiving various news updates and promotional deals. The public accounts platform was launched in August 2012.
The previously used verification process for celebrity, media, and other public accounts required a written application to be submitted to WeChat. As a part of the previous system, 1,000 subscribers were required for individual users and grassroots websites to open public accounts. This verification system was abandoned in September 2012.
According to Sohu IT, the newly reinstated public account verification system was put on hold the morning of November 22. The "Apply for Verification" option has been removed from the settings interface of WeChat's public account platform. Tencent has not commented on the matter. A number of Chinese internet news sources have speculated that the service received an overabundance of public account applications, leading to the temporary halting of the new verification process. As of 5:30 PM Beijing time, the "Apply for Verification" option has returned to WeChat's public account interface system. As a part of the new verification system, 500 followers are now required to register a public WeChat account. Tencent confirmed the story on its official WeChat microblogging account.
Editor's Note: WeChat's reinstating of public account verification does not mean that ordinary WeChat users will also now be asked to verify their real names to use the service.
Keywords: verification wireless Tencent Sina 0700.HK microblogging WeChat real name system mobile IM
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