WeChat changes reward rules, resumes iPhone tipping function

Tencent's WeChat, China's most popular messenger app, has changed its reward rules to give support to authors and will also resume the tipping function in its iPhone version suspended due to a discord with Apple's in-app purchase policy.

In the past, a user could "tip" an article published on a WeChat public account with the money going to the account operator instead of the content creator. In the new version, the author's icon, a brief introduction and a "Like" button are offered following an article so readers can directly tip the author.

WeChat said it has reached an agreement with Apple over the tipping function in the iPhone version of the app. Tips from WeChat users, either using the iOS or Android system, will be transferred to the author's WeChat wallet within seven days.

Purchases delivered within the Apple platforms must use Apple's payment methods and will incur the 30 percent commission. WeChat suspended the tipping function in April 2017 when deemed a violation of Apple rules.