**From news:**mp.weixin.qq.com/s/TqODHgmLX…
Based on the screenshot and the date provided (February 4, 2026), this is indeed "current" news in the context of where we are right now.
Your confusion is very common, but this situation actually reveals a lot about how Tencent works internally and the current state of the Chinese internet ecosystem.
Here is why WeChat (owned by Tencent) would block Yuanbao (also owned by Tencent), and why they seemingly "don't communicate":
1. Tencent's "Internal Horse Racing" Culture (赛马机制)
Tencent is famous for its internal structure where different business groups (BG) operate almost like separate companies.
- WeChat belongs to WXG (WeChat Group).
- Yuanbao (Tencent's AI product) likely belongs to TEG or CSIG (different divisions).
These departments have different KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).
- Yuanbao's goal: Get as many users as possible during the Spring Festival (hence the "red packets" and "tasks" mentioned in the text).
- WeChat's goal: Protect the user experience so people don't get annoyed by spam and leave the app.
Often, one department (Yuanbao) will try to "hack" the growth system of another department (WeChat) without asking, because if they ask permission first, WeChat will just say "no." They take the risk, hoping to get users before they get caught.
2. WeChat's "User Experience" Supremacy
WeChat (historically led by Allen Zhang) has a reputation for being extremely strict about its ecosystem, sometimes even bordering on arrogant. They have a strict rule: "Don't disturb the user."
The image specifically cites Rule 2.1.2: "Inducing sharing via benefits" (like paying people or giving red packets to share links).
WeChat has banned Tencent’s own products before (like WeiShi videos or Tencent News links) when they violated these spam rules. To WeChat, a spammy link is a spammy link, whether it comes from a competitor like ByteDance (Douyin) or a "brother" department like Yuanbao.
3. The "Anti-Monopoly" and Fairness Aspect
This is a crucial modern reason. In recent years, Chinese regulators have been very strict about Internet Platform Interconnectivity.
If WeChat blocks Douyin (TikTok) for "induced sharing" but allows Yuanbao to do the exact same thing just because they are both Tencent companies, WeChat could face anti-trust investigations or heavy fines for monopolistic behavior/discrimination.
By publicly banning Yuanbao, WeChat is sending a message: "See? We are fair. We enforce the rules on everyone, even our own family."
4. Why no private communication?
They almost certainly do have communication channels. However, usually, it plays out like this:
- Yuanbao decides to launch an aggressive campaign to hit their yearly targets. They know it violates WeChat rules, but they do it anyway, hoping WeChat turns a blind eye for a few days during the holiday.
- Users complain loudly to WeChat (as mentioned in the text: "received user feedback and complaints").
- WeChat is forced to act publicly to maintain trust. If they handled it privately and left the links up, users would accuse WeChat of double standards.
Summary
It looks like "no communication," but it is actually a conflict of interest. Yuanbao wants Growth (at any cost). WeChat wants Order (and compliance).
When Yuanbao crossed the line by spamming users with "Red Packets" (bribing users to share), WeChat had to kill the links to save its own reputation and avoid regulatory trouble.
