wechat pic: a U.S. student's guide to sending, scanning, and staying safe
Why a tiny “wechat pic” matters more than you think If you’re a United States student or expat planning to live, study, or work in China, you’ll quickly discover that a single photo on WeChat—whether it’s a QR code, a payment screenshot, or a profile pic—can make or break a whole afternoon. WeChat isn’t just a chat app; since Tencent (founded in Shenzhen in 1998) rolled out QQ in 1999 and then WeChat in 2011, it’s become the digital backbone of everyday life here. After the 2013 rollout of mobile payments, people started paying for groceries, taxis, and street food by scanning QR codes inside that same app. That little green-and-white icon with chat bubbles? It’s everywhere, and your life will be easier if you treat “wechat pic” as an essential daily tool, not a cute add-on. ...