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A comment on US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns.

Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by busheezy on Friday September 18, 2020 @02:22PM (#24520152)
It seems like WeChat access is pretty hard to get in the US currently if you don't know anyone that uses it. I registered an account to try and get support for my Ender 3D printer(nightmare). After a few fields the app asked me to have my sponsor enter my number and I wasn't able to progress further so I uninstalled.
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Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by chance_state on Friday September 18, 2020 @02:57PM (#24520600)
Wait what? You need a "sponsor" to use WeChat?
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Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by nairteashop on Friday September 18, 2020 @03:52PM (#24521200)
Sponsor is perhaps a strong word. You need another WeChat user to verify your account by scanning a QR code displayed on your app using their app. You need to do this when you create an account, and also if you haven't used your account in a while. I assume this is some sort of anti-spam/anti-bot feature.

Note that the above is just for the chat feature. You have to jump through more hoops if you want to make payments using the app.

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Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by ISL on Friday September 18, 2020 @04:05PM (#24521312)
Not only is it an anti-spam feature, but a single personal connection gives substantial insight into a person's social graph.
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Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by busheezy on Friday September 18, 2020 @05:47PM (#24522210)
https://share.busheezy.dev/gVeb8W.png This is what I see.
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Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by bitxbitxbitcoin on Friday September 18, 2020 @03:16PM (#24520804)
To use the Chinese version of WeChat.
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Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by busheezy on Friday September 18, 2020 @05:41PM (#24522156)
To use the version of WeChat I downloaded through the Play store.
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Re:US bans WeChat, TikTok from app stores, threatens shutdowns by 01100011 on Friday September 18, 2020 @05:44PM (#24522183)
I ran into this as well. At some point I was able to sign up using a facebook login. I subsequently deleted facebook, but WC still works.
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