Tencent is killing the web version of QQ, China’s earliest social network

WeChat surpassed QQ, but it’s also leading to a resurgence among young people

Many people say WebQQ’s design is outdated. (Picture: QQ)

More and more products of the early internet are coming to an end. The same is true in China, too, where Tencent says it will shut down the web version of QQ on the first day of 2019.

QQ, Tencent's first messaging service, was one of the first social products Chinese internet users got their hands on. The now ubiquitous WeChat was actually first based on the QQ network.

Print option is available for subscribers only.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.