Why It's So Hard for Meta, PayPal and X to Build a Super App Like WeChat | WSJ

[@ven2791]

The US/EU shouldn't want a single app with access to literally all of their identity, finance, and other security information. It creates a single point of failure that poses a major security threat to customers when that app is infiltrated

[@n3wt]

there trying to get us in line with china if u haven't been figuring it out ...when they don't like u ..ur app ain't ain't working that well 😂

[@bugsygoo]

I have to use wechat for everything when in China. It sucks. It absolutely sucks.

[@orxanr5955]

how does it suck? specifically @@bugsygoo

[@raquetdude]

(EU) What if the single app is controlled by a not for profit, nationalised firm where data is overlooked at by a public board. Why allow or a private firm a monopoly over so much?

[@xila-man8249]

So does that mean the Chinese are better at cyber security?

[@johnl.7754]

Americans and Europeans (and others) already think big technology companies have too much power and lack of privacy so a Super App is a no go.

[@banditonehundred]

I agree, but WeChat seems real convenient. Lazy Americans and Europeans love it and industry is happy to pay their legislators in ‘donations’😅

[@bugsygoo]

Super apps might sound good, but I use wechat everyday and it sucks.

[@kevinjenner9502]

European countries have fined Amazon numerous times.

[@titok77-o8j]

美国的应用面向全球，不同国家应用需求不一样，难以整合。中国的微信只对国内，整合难度小。

[@shanghaidiscovery2664]

Europeans and Americans would use it. they would create groups on wechat to moan about lack of privacy as they do on FB now.... in fact if you look at American or European expats in China, they are extremely addicted to wechat - and actually much more to wechat than alipay mostly because alipay has everything except social media / messaging. But i can tell you my French, American, German connection in China are all wechat addicts and if that existed in their home country, they also would use it. for sure

[@Breaking247]

While it is true that China has made significant strides in the development and adoption of super apps like WeChat, it is important to consider the unique factors that contribute to their success. China's digital landscape, regulatory environment, and consumer behavior differ significantly from those in the United States.

[@VinhTran-yh7uu]

their success is due to national social score

[@BenerGunes]

the so called national social score came out at least 5 years later

[@Sr.Feynman]

ChatGPT?

[@SamudraSovereign]

Yup, there is no need of a super app in today's world, app efficiency is not that important considering downloading full application is neither expensive (affordable data prices) nor you will run out of space quickly (phones these days have more than decent memory capacity).

[@rollbin]

WeChat is just the most well known one, becoming super app is just standard requirements for all the app in China in order to get investment,

[@ankurghosh2387]

Meta is trying to do the same thing in India with WhatsApp. Introduced payments, communities, channels, avatars and what not. It's downright scary what most people don't realize with an attitude of "I have nothing to hide"

[@sr_0736]

I absolutely hate it. I am not a fan of meta in the first and the fact that they have gained such a good hold is downright horrifying

[@straussbolkonsky]

You know about the fact that everything you do on the internet already goes trough the US government databse right? Have people already forgotten about Snowden and the PRISM method of spionage? There is no difference and people in the west are dumb to think there is any difference.

[@andrewlim7751]

India will enjoy American's democracy soon. 😁😁

[@t-.-t.]

All of your information on aadhar has already been leaked by our pathetic goberment.

[@aRandomPersonOfTheInternet]

So, basically they reinvented Telegram for those who just want WhatsApp…

[@DawnPatrol101]

We have this in the usa and it’s called iOS. Imessage, Apple health, Apple Pay, etc... Apple is the tech giant collecting all of our data the same as WeChat (if not more), but it’s just packaged a little differently.

[@MKsaircall]

I completly agree with you. The best (and most scary) part it's that Apple has managed to do all this without us noticing. Elon Musk talks about making X a super app when Apple has been ahead of him for years now

[@jaydibernardo4320]

One more reason to stay away from Apples "walled garden'.

[@technolus5742]

Apple actually operates in many countries. And we have Google too, with Google Chat, Gmail, Google Fit, Google Pay, ... We may find out that Musks idea has already been done and overdone. But... we might find out that none of these apps we are mentioning is a single unified app that does everything.

[@JeremyDeBose]

iMessage doesn’t have all that WeChat does though. But at the end of the day, everybody’s data is everywhere anyway, so at this point there’s no use being scared of them getting it 😂

[@shanghaidiscovery2664]

yes and in China, well Apple still gets the data via wechat installed on millions of their mobiles.... actually we also in China have Xiaomi and mijia which is a network of integrated appliances like washer dryer, AC and so on. Anyway, we live in the age of data so either we embrace it or we go offgrid....

[@mrrmn19]

"Can you grab me a coffee?" "Grab your own coffee." No super-app required.

[@robloxpro5817]

lol

[@tvs99999]

fired

[@zaireneil902]

correct answer！！！

[@purnimachaudhari]

It's order from boss.. He will charge you insubordination. You may have to loose job too.

[@marusdod3685]

@@purnimachaudhari saar plz dont redeem the job

[@ceateio]

The thing is, iOS/Android are our Superapps. We have one screen with multiple buttons for different features. iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Pay, … there‘s no difference between having them as multiple tabs or multiple apps.

[@owenliu4780]

iOS/Android is the super app. China does not own Android/iOS, and they also want people across both Android/iOS to access the same super-platform (OS). Eventually, WeChat becomes the "super OS", and the "mini-programs" are the apps inside.

[@ceateio]

@@owenliu4780 Exactly!

[@gjune36]

You have no idea how good wechat is

[@aRandomPersonOfTheInternet]

The biggest advantage for the user is that these apps are decentralised. And that’s the biggest disadvantage for a greedy corporation that wants to control your entire life, making you pay for their wide array of services, none of which are good aside from the main one you’re using it for. This is what a super app is - a bloated piece of garbage attached to one tiny yet useful service…

[@minsekfau3218]

The word you're looking for is operating systems. The purpose of an OS varies very differently to an application. Comparing an OS to an app is like comparing apples to or... angutans. Yes, not even oranges. Just because an OS is 'big' in size doesn't mean it's a superapp -- it's one only when it starts containing unrelated things. So I'd still say you comment makes a bit sense, even though not much. At least the part about iOS being bloated is correct. Android, on the other hand, is 'okay', if we're talking about Android *itself*, i.e. AOSP (Android Open Source Project). It's OEMs' skins of Android that make it bloated, usually. That's why I always use and also recommend using a custom Android ROM.

[@rollbin]

The thing is every app in China is becoming super app not just WeChat, there are shopping app or gym app becoming social platform, and music app becoming livestream platform

[@Barryzhu-cy6ue]

是啊，中国的软件总是比较复杂，恨不得把所有的功能都集成进去，美国的软件很简洁。

[@Syvern.]

​@@Barryzhu-cy6ueI like the Chinese software better than America's too

[@锵锵锵锵]

​@@Barryzhu-cy6ue😂国外软件垃圾的要死，还好意思说

[@zj7396]

@@Syvern. try using that for several years. WeChat is cumbersome AF!

[@xiaokanfengyun-xn]

​@@Barryzhu-cy6ue- I'm from Vietnam and I like QQ, Weibo, WeChat, BiliBili and especially Xiaohongshu (小红书).

[@VarunDaniel]

Giving one organization control over everything is not always a good idea. Remember how when Google has an issue with one of the products you use they block your entire Google account preventing you access from every Google products you use.

[@TomNook.]

There is a way to offer the convenience of a "super" app AND limit the power of tech giants. Anyone can create an app and through APIs, integrate services from the major platforms into one. It can be as separated (an app that then links to the 5 different websites - essentially a browser) or integrated as required. This does however require the big tech companies to open up their features through developer APIs.

[@technolus5742]

@@ibgib Why not? Instead of having the buy button for Amazon products exclusively on the Amazon app, you could have any number of apps using Amazon as a back-end service provider. For the user it would be the exact same thing, while having chpice between a variety of apps that seamlessly display products from Amazon and their competitors. As for identity, you just carry your identity with you instead of Amazon saving it for you. Sure big tech companies don't have incentive to do any of this, in fact they will fight it. But that's why regulation would be passed to force them to do things that do not maximize their profit, but which are very good for consumers.

[@TomNook.]

@@ibgib I think Bluesky is trying that with "Web5". But its a problem that I don't think can be solved with current tech - if you want cost effective convenience, you'll need centralisation.

[@MohammadIshfaqueJahanRafee]

That's called OS.

[@Song-TheNiceGuy]

This is exactly what WeChat and Alipay did back in the 2010s. Most of the mini-programs on these apps are open source. Both of the companies are actively giving free online classes for people to open new features on them. All they have to do is invest in the most popular mini-apps and make billions from this business model 😂😂😂.

[@rohit_banga]

Every large tech company already does that.

[@mikecairnduff]

When you are jumping between the different screens and mini programs within WeChat, it doesn't feel seemless at all. It's no different to having separate apps. However, the great thing about it is everyone has it, so you can easily pay for things, transfer money etc. I can't see a similar app taking off in the West though.

[@RodrigoSouza-b4d]

You might be insterested about the brazillian invention of Pix for transfering money.

[@fetB]

wow, opening 4 apps within a span of hours. truely a massive task. Are we really that low already?

[@enz0_25]

The author and channel is for sure.

[@enz0_25]

The author and channel is, for sure.

[@_skrumcious_]

the more relevant question is why would you open four when you can open one.

[@fetB]

@@_skrumcious_ because of the greater benefit? weird question

[@_skrumcious_]

​@@fetBwhat benefit? the question was rhetorical, choosing the easier way to complete a task is just common sense.

[@Hellojsm8823]

They missed the technically different insights. WeChat offers coders a frontend layer and lightweight scripting language functions and interfaces to develop their own services, known as WeChat Mini Programs. It is essentially a mimic of Google Play for Android OS services, but with a smaller, simpler, and lighter language and development procedure.

[@ataraxialu5656]

That's the key point indeed

[@user-rh6ru5oz2o]

Why aren't things as efficient and all encompassing as in an authoritarian state?

[@TomNook.]

lol

[@bngr_bngr]

Yeah that’s the problem this story didn’t even address.

[@he-yi-jie-you-wei-you-bao-fu]

The pain caused by the use of force by the United States to other countries is more terrible than those😢 "dictatorships"😢😢

[@user-rh6ru5oz2o]

@@he-yi-jie-you-wei-you-bao-fu Oh, whataboutism. How predictable. While we're doing whataboutism, want to talk about the pain caused by the CCP?

[@bugsygoo]

​@@he-yi-jie-you-wei-you-bao-fuThe pain wechat causes me when I'm forced to use it helps make up for it. It's the world's shitiest app. But thanks for the comment, wamao.

[@LaxmikantKachhap]

Amazon is already on the way to do this in India. It already provided a range of services from banking to booking movie tickets and more.

[@DeepakSingh-hb6so]

TATA is also trying by introducing TATA NEU app

[@apexpredator2118]

Even Paytm has a lot of features, but do people use all the features of these apps? Mostly no. They just look more cluttered.

[@ankurghosh2387]

​@@apexpredator2118more like a data privacy nightmare than being cluttered

[@marcelpavlik7976]

Are You from India wheb you know that?

[@LaxmikantKachhap]

@@marcelpavlik7976 I use Amazon pay for bill payments, travel tickets, movies, insurance, investments, and so much more

[@danmarius]

The super-app is a super bad idea. Because of security and because competition works.

[@beneree]

Not true. Beneree solved all problems already.

[@Fordance100]

I think you are wrong. The security is actually worse to give your data to 10 different companies.

[@danmarius]

@@Fordance100 do you really want to lose all your money from your account when someone steals your Facebook or Twitter account (for example) or do you want to use a dedicated payment app?

[@Digger-Nick]

@@Fordance100 1 company having all your data is MUCH worse than 10 companies having different data...

[@akakakakakak3084]

​@@Digger-NickI wonder why data is different, different name, gender, birthday?😅

[@MKsaircall]

There is already a company that manages finance, messaging any other commodities you can think off. It's Apple, they already are a Super Company and the App Store it's a super app manages everything. US and European citizens don't see an issue with using multiple apps to fulfill their needs. Plus competition makes for a better costumer experience even if we sacrifice the commodity of having everything in one app.

[@AgentX-dh3lf]

Whatsapp in India has Chats, Calls, Video Calls, peoples' statuses, UPI Payments and Shopping all in one app.

[@siddharthsriram9698]

It’s really not that complicated to get your boss a coffee. You don’t need a super app lol.

[@Walk_0210]

1:16 Many WeChat users in China use the app not because they like it, but because they believe it can do everything they need.

[@SmileBox-h2w]

You don't need to jump between the apps inside the Wechat. But you still have one display it means you still need to jump between different windows

[@jacklim5940]

No

[@EikottXD]

​@@jacklim5940Yes

[@xiaokanfengyun-xn]

Don't judge it if you haven't really/actually used it.

[@owenliu4780]

Most operations are designed single-directions for users even if they eventually launch up different components, and almost nothing needs to be back-and-forth. It also supports floating windows/icons inside the apps so you can multi-task.

[@unknown2723]

@@jacklim5940 ok so tell when in chatting with my friend and need to order something and can I search on same window for that ?😂

[@stuartsaint4581]

People need to remember that having everything on one device is already pretty convenient, even if it is multiple devices. The only people really interested in completely integrating these things are those who can see a big profit in selling personal data, or authoritarian governments. If an app or service is free, then you are the product that is for sale.

[@abbasz1]

I remember using wechat in 2014 in china. It had features that took facebook/whatsapp etc to copy in 5 years to implement. But one would agree that giving too much information and control to one company could be bad.

[@Padawan0001]

People used to go to atms not too long ago. We have come a long way. So don’t forget to sit down for a bit and relax. Just say good job and move on.

[@yawfraser]

Imagine the super app crashes, meaning you end up losing everything.

[@CulturalXplorer19]

No you don't, there are alternatives obviously... It's just that it is wildy used

[@the_mariocrafter]

When it crashes reopen it.

[@xumx]

Technically WeChat is a messaging/social media app that also acts as a web browser. So while technically the browser is a window to endless amount of other services. It is not too different from safari on iOS with integrated keychain, and Apple Pay etc. The browser doesn’t actually “own” all the user data, the third party companies building the websites (mini apps) do. The privacy concerns are misguided.

[@Orventillle]

the data is being fetched first from wechat as it originates from them when the connection to third party service is made. they definitely would have access to it

[@xumx]

@@Orventillle like I said, you can argue that Google chrome as a browser technically has access to all your browsing data, but realistically, the data belongs to the websites you are visiting and not the browser company.

[@Asjrhwu37317]

I prefer having choice and control which services I choose to use rather than being forced to use one. I like my privacy and privileges 😅

[@jjbully]

Apps in China can be mini program in wechat or a separate app. And there are few more super app in China e.g. Alipay, Meituian. So consumer in China do have choice

[@peacelover2008]

so you like to share your personal info to different apps than just one app which has been trusted and used for 1.3 billion people and for decades? how could you so sure the other smaller apps is trustful and safe?

[@Asjrhwu37317]

@@peacelover2008 Given that data breaches are common in 2023, I'd rather have my data scattered around than concentrated in one place, like an easy target waiting to be compromised.

[@enz0_25]

​@@peacelover2008 "superapp" sheep is really disgusting

[@arkabera3263]

super app being succesful is also have something to do with their autocratic system and rejecting US services like meta, google etc. Here in India super app approach has also hasn't got any traction for the same reason. Also people here are used to what they were already using since the start of digital services since 10-15 years.

[@apachekafka773]

😂😂😂 They were accepted they couldn't compete or obey the rules of the land. Nobody sent them away. India is democratic on paper and autocratic in operation.

[@sookwalinga]

Instead of super apps, how about advocating for interoperability. Imagine having all the different apps working together seamlessly without compromising user privacy instead of creating another monopoly

[@mememajor2346]

1.47 is the biggest lie. If my app is only tracking me when it is open. Why when it is closed and in my pocket is it listening to me

[@moderatelyapathetic3280]

I’m not sure if we want a company having that much control

[@MuhammadHaekalSutrisna]

well, there a single company not only work on super app, but also super device (IOS), it have imassege, iwallet, etc, it just different branding in the end

[@aaronl5826]

apple

[@pb25789]

We already have without you wanting it: Apple, Google, Amazon

[@smatthewyb]

convenient but at the cost of compromise all your information? no

[@popps33]

Great Video! Actually exploring frameworks of Healthcare-centered Superapps but not really for US market at first because Health Insurance companies are absolutely terrible

[@Song-TheNiceGuy]

It will never happen if the app is not run by the insurance companies. 😂😂

[@exxodas]

Ummm… there is already a super app… it’s called iOS. Apple has apps for your payments, your messages, your photos, your music, your TV, your health, etc.

[@Andre-mi6fk]

We don't need a Super app. We simply need loosely coupled apps. So signing in and paying seamlessly across multiple apps. That is done at the platform level and Apple is well on that journey already.

[@neel28sarkar]

Well even few months back Tata also launched TATA Nue in India but that didn't took off as well.

[@k.k.c8670]

That's because the Indian govt had a tantrum a few years back and threw out wechat. Just like TikTok, none of the Indian 'replacements' have had that kind of success.

[@gattlinggun9881]

W0W SUPPA P0PPAR ST!NKY BR0WN END!0T!!! 😊😊😊🤣🤣🤣🤭🤭🤭

[@catchfishattexas]

its surprising that Meta or X don't have a payment function. and Apple pay, google pay don't have social media base.

[@MaGioZal]

The main difference is that the US is a federal democracy. And in a democracy there are many independent federal agencies to regulate market transactions and communication, among other things.

[@serpentine8914]

Because Unix/Linux has the generally accepted philosophy of making an application do one thing, and do one thing well. This is sort of lesson 1 for all computer scientists really.

[@chwistofa]

In physical reality though I at least would rather something be a multi-purpose utility rather than a unipurpose one

[@pabss3193]

No thanks WSJ, no super app, please and thank you!

[@wayando]

Apps should remain separate ... Its bad enough that all our info is on one device, it would be catastrophic to make it worse by putting it on one app. Besides, Google and Apple have operating systems that cover the role of the "one app".

[@Kevindevin7]

We don’t need any more monopolies, thanks!

[@Sjalabais]

Can't believe the most important point - privacy concerns and the fact we're living in free countries - only comes up last. Nobody wants this. Convenience is the enemy of freedom.

[@aopengzuo2156]

can't believe no one has mentioned the covid health QRcode shitshow

[@ranfak]

Lol 😆 once you are in internet forget about so called privacy.

[@kizanko]

This shouldn't be called a "Super App" it's glorifying a monopolistic power dynamic. This is basically a "Surveillance App"

[@nullerduh]

There is very little appeal other than the company that made it being insanely profitable, and a monopoly

[@k.k.c8670]

You have to use it before knocking it

[@bpeng2000]

@@k.k.c8670 I was going to say the same thing. He has not used wechat, and knows nothing about the mini-program ecosystem.

[@SHENGEsiyabonga]

In South Africa, you don’t even have to manually add the car. Our banking apps can easily link to Apple or Samsung pay and add the card automatically within seconds

[@obsmagician]

Say people are scared a Super App in the US is just an excuse. For instance my Credit Card is already register in my Amazon App. If Amazon App could let me pay my local stores, i won't be upset. If Amazon App can let buy my bus ticket, or plane ticket, i won't be upset. It is just no one can provide a Super App in our country

[@KarenLynnOlsen]

My advice to anyone starting out in the tech market is to seek guidance as its the best way to build long term wealth while managing your risk and emotions with the passive investing strategy

[@gilbertbrien2280]

The trading market is constantly evolving with new features, trading opportunities, financial swings with sudden surprises around every corner. Honestly the best thing is to stay in shape and don’t let anything catch you on the wrong foot

[@rineleff2009]

As the economy crisis keep rising, one needs to have different streams of income, a well detailed diversified investment portfolio in the financial markets is needed to survive, as well as secure a profitable investment future! Wondering if viewers here are familiar with Camille Anne Hector trading strategies

[@AmandaKatherineLeff-j9f]

Nothing feels better than having a trader that makes maximize profit on ones benefit, I didn't get to benefit that this whole lockdown but its never late, how can i reach this trader you speak about that made you earning even in the red market?

[@rineleff2009]

Well Mrs Camille it is very much easy all you have to do if interested in her platform Just took her up on the net you’ll be for sure directed to her platform

[@AmandaKatherineLeff-j9f]

Thanks for sharing this truly I just Googled her name and her website came up right away. It looks interesting so far. I'm going to book a call with her and let you know how it goes.

[@AverageGuy916]

I see a lot of comments below saying any "Super App" would invade their privacy. Well.. when you are connected to the web, your privacy has been invaded or out of the window. Read all the agreements on every app you have installed. You have no ownership of your private data once you use any of the app, because if you are not paying for it, you are the product.

[@MrKar18]

The problem with Super app like wechat is that it will try to get monopoly of everything sector - Food, payment, social media. It's a huge no for consumers in terms of benefits and security.

[@ZynzeNycraile]

Don't know how WeChat works😂😂😂 lol you can register your business inside it.

[@ZynzeNycraile]

Many small businesses registered inside WeChat. GPS works inside china and you can fine business food bags any items near you

[@xzxleo]

it's not true ,there are alipay ,chinese tiktok,meituan and other competitors It's just that WeChat just has all the functions, but some functions can't meet the complete needs of consumers.

[@张凡-o6j]

However, WeChat cannot achieve monopoly in the social media, payment, and food industries, and is even slowly regressing.

[@Illyaaa]

FBI IT department should develop a super app, they already got all the data anyways, no harm

[@funghi2606]

That actually very simple. Meanwhile there is not a Superapp, there are big umbrellas operating systems: IOS and Android. Because of the control of the Chinese government, they can’t operate the same way in china, so there was a void filled by superapps. Also people would not trust an app with all that power

[@sonusmeister2325]

at least in SEA, Grab and Goto started as ride hailing, then developed to food delivery, loan, and payment service.

[@Eoin-B]

Imagine you want to start a ride-share company that had slightly better fairs as a fair trade alternative to Uber. It sounds tough enough to break into the market as it is. But if we were in China, with the population not venturing outside of the superapp for services, it would not be the market that decides if this business makes it, it would be WeChat purchasing the idea and implementing it for it to even appear on customers' screens. That's what a super app does. It doesn't allow any new business to grow organically, the owners can make or break any startup on a whim. The EU would cut any app up as fast as Elon tries creating one.

[@peacelover2008]

if you talking about monopoly , who is worse than the WEST?

[@Eoin-B]

@devstuff2576 I don't even understand his comment, it's pure nonsense. That's why I never responded. There are literally millions of companies. And my comment was about having the culture of not wanting one app to be a monopoly and am happy the EU is activley breaking up digital monopolys & gatekeepers at the moment.

[@tlieyanx790]

Sorry, but I have to say, in China, Wechat only supports a stage to kinds of companies, it doesn't creat servece. If you come to China, you can have a try :)

[@Eoin-B]

@@tlieyanx790 Sorry, I only know that the Grab app was a copy of WeChat. Grab is in Vietnaim and Thailand and that owns all the services I used it all the time for literally everything. Because it was a copy, I assumed they had the same platform. Maybe the title should have been X wants to create super app like Grab?

[@victorchen9170]

Then how does Didi exist?

[@krishnendu_999]

India has it all Whatsapp: payment , online shopping food order Apollo : buy med, book tests, doctor appointments online and offline also prescription, report storage in cloud The list goes on...

[@privat6558]

I mean the superapp ist the smartphone itself. Otherwise it's an app with multiples apps inside. No difference.

[@pia31415]

It's a privacy nightmare! No wonder it is a "holy grail" for companies, they can only have their mouth water at the information flux.

[@jingpinhuicai]

I would rather have multiple apps each doing their own things rather than having my entire digital life tracked and recorded by one company.

[@seaque.]

I'd rather use native/efficient written actual applications than one app that has hundreds and hundreds of webview based *apps*

[@andydondy6444]

Wechat is fantastic 👍👍👍👍

[@Blarnix]

I think people don’t realize that an app as big as WeChat wouldn’t solve anything because regardless, you’re going to go into separate sections of the app anyway. It’s no different than different apps.

[@goo1358]

True, you you don't have to remember multiple passwords. I have an excel spreadsheet for passwords. It's very annoying

[@freemagicfun]

Of the US companies I think Google could likely be the super-app... they are almost there already... if any company is allowed to. There may be too may regulatory issues or monopoly complaints. I wish we had something as convenient as WeChat. 😎

[@dylangarcia9468]

the problem with a superapp is that the entire purpose of apps on a phone is to a. provide functionality and b. segment them. i don't want one app that does everything, i want an app for individual tasks. one app for everything is far too bloated because then it just ends up doing everything that a smartphone operating system should do in the first place. reducing friction between different apps is what the phone should do, and ends up doing well. for example, i use apple pay for everything, and easily enough i don't have to fuss around with 4 different apps to use the coffee money my boss sent me.

[@ibgib]

The problem is this does not add the same convenience without federated identity and an orchestration approach that minimizes indirection & abstraction. Think of the one button buy on Amazon. There is currently no incentive from big tech to streamline handoffs to other apps. The future of this is not a "super app" but rather an open data protocol that solves both identity and the streamlining. The problem is our current best attempts' at these distributed architectures (e.g. etherium, ipfs, w3c solid pods) are too complex (not DRY) and take too much from bitcoin, and too DAO-y.

[@AndreaDoesYoga]

Interesting analysis, tech dominance isn't easy! 🌐

[@bugsygoo]

I have the misfortune of having to use wechat every day. It's an abomination of an app. It's not quicker than using multiple apps. To go from one function to another takes more taps than it would to use two different apps. It's absolutely nothing to be envious of. It does not make anything easy.

[@johnnywalker2870]

Yeah, if it's not American, it's not good. Funny how hundreds of millions of Chinese love it.🤔🤔

[@IAmAPhan]

​@@johnnywalker2870lol, you inferred too hard.

[@xinyiquan666]

@@johnnywalker2870 whchat is best, but its not deigned for non chinese or those with different background, its funny US make excuse because it can not develop as good

[@xinyiquan666]

@@johnnywalker2870 whchat is best, its funny US make excuse because it can not develop as good

[@xinyiquan666]

and it is quick , and stop envis , and just keep to whatspp

[@westwest35]

Super apps are stupid. They’re essentially just a single interface designed to manage different features or functions within a framework that’s already meant to handle apps with varying features and functions.

[@nubreed1980]

I am a fan of micro apps. It’s the whole reason why iPhone exists 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Alexisslayer00]

Short answer: It needs the government approval.

[@coldham77]

I like the data silos that apps offer in terms of security.

[@frankkevy]

I thought the beginning of the video was an add

[@Taskmaster0696]

It’s not that it’s hard , it’s that we don’t want that lol … also good to note Meta is attempting to make a super app if you look closely

[@1ObsoleteMan]

Apple might have best shot between Apple Pay Cash hardware privacy and health.this seems like great idea 4 a video.

[@CulturalXplorer19]

So, you do want to... Which is why Elon musk and meta is trying to.

[@NotionalTarget]

How often do you need to bring coffee for the boss? If it's everyday then you don't need a super app. You need another job.

[@linglin1558]

the whole world using all US apps is a more concerned issue. every country should develop their own apps.

[@multatuli1]

Democratic countries parties mostly funded by various company, while in china those companies had to bow down to government including jack ma alibaba. Corporate greed are harshly limited.

[@sudiptokumar986]

They were able to make super app bcoz they copied the features and keep Integration it in the app. On the another hand whatapp owned by meta has payment features in India, but rarely anyone uses it as META disrespect to privacy features.

[@bpeng2000]

A majority of the features are offered by third-party companies through the mini-program interface....

[@GeliCarlosJ]

People fail to realize China is just a completely different environment in every aspect to that of the US or EU. Anti monopoly (or at least an attempt to enforce) is a thing for basically all countries, in China there is no anti monopoly since the government is the monopoly and exerts various levels of control over all that conduct business within their borders.

[@sachin2842]

trust me as an IT person I say we're all better off with different apps which is more democratic and gives us the control than say chinese we chat 😂 like seriously would u trust all data with one app?

[@zsarimaxim692]

Instead of one company having your data, it’ll be a 100 companies all having your data. The funny part is that they will buy and sell these data from each other to get a full picture.

[@everbeever]

as an IT person, I don't believe any tech company. Your personal data is the company's asset, they can use it without notifying you. And the only time notifying you is when the data is breached. You registered 10 apps means you are more than 10X vulnerable than 1 time.

[@sachin2842]

@@everbeever bt u can just take back permission as u gave it though after work of that app is done..

[@peacelover2008]

@@sachin2842 YOU are too young too naive , when you take back permission, they already got your info.

[@SorminaESar]

No we chat, face book, instagram and twitter at all, so scared of wasting time and energy. Just enjoy your life cause the life is so good😊

[@yukunwang2059]

As much as I hate tencent as a company wechat does make life a lot easier for everyone in China.

[@TomNook.]

Unless your account is blocked. Then you'll be hard pressed finding alternatives.

[@user-rh6ru5oz2o]

Doesn't make it easier for Chinese people to discuss certain sensitive topics

[@L2002]

1:49 that's not always true.🤦‍♂ or maybe the sentence doesn't seem accurate?

[@rabbitazteca23]

I actually love wechat. I think it's silly to argue about privacy when u LITERALLY lose the same privacy to 5 different apps. Why not lose them in a single app other than 5? 😂😂😂 Wake up people and stop being so daft. If you want to pay using your phone you're gonna have to provide things like IDs to prove ur a real person and if u want to use the money on your credit cards using your phone you're gonna have to enter your credit card details. No one is forcing you to do this!

[@the.blue.raven7777]

Should be illegal to have such monopoly

[@BargSlarg]

I see how a company would like to be in that position, but our current situation seems a lot better for the consumer than a single app's monopoly.

[@vinhedos]

Google, Microsoft and Meta are already a privacy nightmare, let alone with super apps.

[@JeremyDeBose]

Apple could lead the charge on this. I’d like to have one (as an option, not the ONLY option). But with antitrust laws etc, it would be hard to do, I think.

[@RainerBrunotte]

why the f would we ever want a total surveillance app like wechat in the EU/US !?!?! 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

[@CadyCadwell]

we don't have wechat because we values privacy and freedom of speech. which's none, not a single, wechat users, have the luxury of both human rights very basic essential values...

[@Xrey-ek5sh]

Freedom of speech and privacy, you think you have that with your other apps 🤣😂

[@ranfak]

@@Xrey-ek5sh😂exactly, they talk about freedom and privacy and don’t wanna give their data to one app but they are ok to give their data to 5 different app 😂 what kind of logic is this lol and they talk about we don’t wanna give single app all power but they are ok to use one single internet server which is dominated by government authorities lol .

[@hihihi5367]

If I wanted to control an entire population and know everything about them, I would want a super app. If I wanted privacy and freedoms, I would want what we have now.

[@salttea8926]

In my opinion US companies prefer quantity while in China the prefer Quality...

[@landotter]

I can tell by the quality of their products 🙄

[@salttea8926]

@@landotter I use Chinese products and they are good in quality... Even IPhones are made there which they supply to asia

[@TomNook.]

@@quantumbuddhist you get what you pay for. $1000 iPhone is top notch. $3 sandals, not so much.

[@TomNook.]

​@@landotter Yup, my 25 YEAR OLD laptop, Made in China still works.

[@salttea8926]

@@quantumbuddhist then why people's buy them as you belong to free economy...

[@TenkyuuWeima]

The dude who said it's all in ios is completely right. Why build a super app when you can just integrate all these functions into the UI itself and make even downloading an app competely obsolete.

[@Niku500-youtube]

Quick answer - because Apple don’t allow super apps , ie apps within an app. It’s strange this report did not cover the most obvious reason and blamed it all on user experience . In fact even the US version of the WeChat don’t have features like call your Uber , starbucks from the app …. Because it is NOT ALLOWED. Simple

[@willianmarcucci2677]

Another point is that Apple prevents the creation of SuperApps in the AppStore. They say that applications like this would interrupt the customer experience offered by the iOS system.

[@cheese-power]

It’s really more of a culture thing than a technology stuff.

[@mramaretto114]

What i would like in the west is like a superpass, an mobile wallet that has a list of trusted businesses so when i want to rent a kickbike, enter a personel free store, try a new charging station for my car etc i shouldnt be forced to download and app or enter my cards over and over again, just scan qr and go

[@doniherald7745]

0:51 Xperia mini pro, my old phone, this thing is awesome.

[@grimbles39]

Don't know what wechat is, don't care, don't tell me.

[@DrKlausReichert]

It’s also pretty hard to built all these extras into eg Twitter, as their model is based on basically anonymous users and no checks at all. In essence: trust is not built into the Twitter DNA.

[@3.14name]

Well cause that app is also a surveillance weapon

[@hermanwooster8944]

We had the concepts of super apps back in the 1990s. They were cluttered, inefficient, and a real pain to use. We found out that decentralized apps do the same tasks better. They're also easier to make, maintain, and improve. Lusting after whatever China does is a bad strategy.