WeChat, developed by Tencent Technology and launched in January 2011, has become one of the most widely used social media platforms globally, with 1.38 billion active users as of 2024 (Statista, 2025a). Although most of WeChat's users are based in China, the platform has been steadily expanding its user base internationally, reaching countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the United States, among others (Statista, 2025b).
The platform extends beyond traditional social networking functions, offering a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates diverse services and features into a single application (Montag et al., 2018a).
One of WeChat's defining characteristics is its versatility, which extends beyond mere communication. The platform provides a broad range of in-app features, including text and voice messaging, instant notifications, and video/voice calling (Pang et al., 2022). To address the diverse needs of its users, WeChat incorporates a variety of social and entertainment features such as Moments for sharing photos and videos; WeChat Groups for collaborative discussions; Shake, a feature for discovering active users; People Nearby, which facilitates the location of users in close proximity; and Subscriptions for accessing content from followed publishers (Pang & Ruan, 2023). Additional tools such as WeChat Pay, WeChat QR Codes, and WeChat Search further enhance its functionality and user experience.
Moreover, WeChat has expanded its capabilities through the introduction of Mini Programs, allowing third-party developers to design and integrate applications directly within the platform. This innovation has transformed WeChat into a hub for various activities, including money transfers, shopping, ride-hailing, food delivery, dating, and more. These features make WeChat an indispensable part of daily life for many users.
As WeChat becomes increasingly integrated into the routines of its users, it is crucial to examine the potential impacts of its widespread adoption on quality of life and mental health. The platform's extensive use and multifunctionality present both opportunities and challenges for emotional well-being. Investigating these effects is essential to understanding the broader implications of its global popularity.
Emerging research points towards a positive association between WeChat usage and psychological well-being across various age groups and populations.
For example, Xiao et al. (2023) demonstrated that exposure to entertainment videos shared on WeChat, particularly inspirational and comedic content, significantly improved college students' psychological health. These benefits were observed in areas such as emotional regulation, positive learning experiences, and overall happiness. Furthermore, consistent engagement with such content was linked to a reduction in interpersonal distress among students.
Among younger users, studies have emphasized WeChat's role in mitigating the adverse effects of stressful life events on life satisfaction (Li et al., 2018). This positive influence may stem from WeChat's ability to enhance users' network diversity and size in daily life, fostering increased online bridging capital, bonding capital, and overall life satisfaction (Pang, 2022).
WeChat's positive effects have also been documented among older adults. Zhou et al. (2024) found that WeChat usage positively influenced cognitive performance in middle-aged and older Chinese populations. Specifically, engaging with features like "Moments" was associated with improved executive function and episodic memory. Additionally, recent studies have revealed that WeChat usage enhances emotional well-being among older adults, particularly for those living alone (Song et al., 2021) or experiencing depressive symptoms (Chen et al., 2019; Qu et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2023; Zhang & Liang, 2023).
Overall, current research suggests that a balanced use of WeChat's social features can significantly contribute to promoting mental health among middle-aged and elderly users. By enabling users to maintain close social relationships and build trust, WeChat plays a relevant role in enhancing psychological well-being. Furthermore, the platform facilitates intergenerational support and encourages engagement in social activities, thereby further improving the overall quality of life for its users.
While WeChat is recognized for its potential in fostering social connections, researchers have increasingly examined its adverse effects, consistent with concerns raised about other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. These investigations suggest the potential negative consequences associated with excessive or addictive use of WeChat.
Despite the conveniences WeChat can provide in daily life, excessive engagement in activities such as messaging and sharing content via the "Moments" function has been linked to negative impacts on users' mental health (Mao et al., 2022). Thus, prolonged and excessive use of WeChat has been identified as a contributor to addictive behaviors (Montag et al., 2018a, 2018b). College students, who tend to adapt quickly to new technologies and exhibit higher reliance on WeChat, represent a particularly high-risk group for developing WeChat addiction (Vacaru et al., 2014).
Montag et al. (2018b) conducted a study on college students and identified multiple symptoms of WeChat addiction. These symptoms included:
Research has identified several underlying factors contributing to addictive WeChat use. Psychological needs satisfaction (Gao et al., 2021), exposure to negative life events (Li et al., 2018; Mao, 2014; Mao et al., 2023), and stress (Yan et al., 2014) have been linked to excessive platform engagement. These findings suggest that WeChat can be used as a coping mechanism to manage negative emotions and challenging life experiences.
Such behavior has tangible consequences. For example, the term "homebody" has been used to describe the detrimental effects of excessive WeChat use on an individual's daily life. Xu (2013) found that addictive use of the platform could lead to the development of a withdrawn personality, hindering college students from cultivating a balanced outlook on life and values. Furthermore, excessive WeChat usage has been linked to neglect in critical thinking and a tendency toward passivity in the daily activities of college students (Yu, 2014).
A nationwide study conducted among 11,283 medical college students in China found a significant association between frequent and prolonged WeChat use and mental health disorders and stress (Zhang et al., 2021). The study attributed these negative effects to factors such as physical and mental exhaustion, time expenditure, and demands related to using WeChat for entertainment and social interactions.
WeChat’s visual elements, particularly those in the Moments feature, have also been linked to specific mental health concerns. Yu et al. (2023) found that exposure to appearance-related content on WeChat Moments was associated with body image dissatisfaction among college women. The study highlights how highly visual features exacerbate appearance-related pressures, making them significant risk factors for negative body image. These findings align with Tiggemann and Zaccardo (2016), who emphasized the impact of exposure to thin, idealized bodies on body image. The overrepresentation of such stereotypes can have severe psychological effects. Furthermore, these results are consistent with earlier studies linking highly visual media, such as WeChat Moments, to body image concerns (Choukas-Bradley et al., 2022; Sagrera et al., 2022; Saiphoo & Vahedi, 2019).
The multifaceted nature of WeChat addiction underscores the need for comprehensive prevention strategies. Educational initiatives, technological interventions (for ex.: app usage monitoring tools), and psychological support are critical to fostering healthier digital habits. Targeting high-risk populations, particularly college students, can mitigate the adverse effects of excessive WeChat use while preserving its potential benefits for social connection and communication.
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