Apple is pressuring Tencent Holdings and ByteDance to make fundamental changes to China’s most popular apps, “an unusual move that may inflame tensions in the world’s largest smartphone market,” reports Bloomberg.
The article says that, in recent months, the tech giant has demanded the two companies close loopholes that their in-app creators employ to funnel users to external payment systems, circumventing Apple’s typical 30% commission. The loopholes are linked to mini-apps that allow users of Tencent’s social-messaging app WeChat and ByteDance’s short-video app Douyin to play games, hail taxis, and make online purchases without leaving the app.
WeChat or Weixin in Chinese is a Chinese instant messaging, social media, and mobile payment app. Douyin is the TikTok app for China.
