China’s most popular social app has hit the 1 billion milestone, and the rest of the world is beginning to notice.

China takes social media stage

Until now, only WhatsApp, Messenger, YouTube and Facebook could boast clearing the billion monthly user achievement, and WeChat is joining the ranks with a surge, marking it as China’s most popular social media platform.

It should be noted that WeChat allows users to maintain both a professional and personal account, meaning the billion user milestone may not entirely reflect the truest number, though still impressive.

The edge

Australian users are beginning to adopt WeChat, largely thanks to its in-house mobile payment service “WeChat Pay,” allowing for restaurant bookings, taxis, money transfers between users, and of course online shopping.

The app has fast become an essential service for the day to day of life in China and the method is catching, now launched in over 15 countries.

More than 10,000 Australian shops and restaurants allow WeChat Pay with an estimated 2.5 million Australians already using the app. If the app catches on in Western markets, a paradigm shift could be coming.

Have you used WeChat Pay? What do you think about the new service? Give us your thoughts in the comment section below.