WeChat Rolls Out Two New Features for Social Interaction and Privacy

WeChat has introduced two new features that are attracting attention among users: a new way to express opinions through the platform’s “What Everyone Is Searching” section and a “Private Post” option for Moments that allows users to publish content visible only to themselves.

The two updates focus on different aspects of the social platform. One encourages users to participate in discussions around trending search topics, while the other gives users a more direct way to save or publish Moments content privately.

Users Can Now React to Trending Search Topics

The first update appears in WeChat’s “What Everyone Is Searching” section.

According to recent testing reported by Chinese media, users can click on certain trending search terms and select an option to express their own reaction. The available reactions are presented through a selection of emojis or expressions.

After making a selection, users may see their reaction displayed alongside those of other users. WeChat indicates that a user's reaction may also be visible to friends through the “What Everyone Is Searching” section.

The feature provides another way for users to participate in discussions without necessarily writing a comment or posting a separate message.

The update is currently being observed by some users, and the exact availability may vary depending on account and app version.

Moments Adds a “Private Post” Option

The second update is the addition of a “Private Post” option in WeChat Moments.

With the new feature, users can publish a Moments post that is visible only to themselves. After posting, users can also choose to make the content public.

Previously, users who wanted to keep a Moments post private generally needed to select the relevant privacy setting before publishing. The new entry point makes the private-posting option more direct by placing it within the Moments publishing interface.

Tencent customer service confirmed to Sina Technology that the “Private Post” feature has been introduced and is currently undergoing gray-scale testing on iOS and Android. This means only some users can access it at the current stage, while other users may need to wait for a later update.

The feature could be useful for users who want to record photos, thoughts or daily events in Moments without immediately sharing them with their contacts.

More Gradual Changes to WeChat

The latest additions come as WeChat continues to test new functions across its social and AI-related services.

Recent updates have also included expanded capabilities for the built-in Xiaowei AI assistant, including image interpretation, AI-generated photos and image expansion, while other parts of the interface and camera experience have also been adjusted.

For the two latest social features, however, availability remains dependent on the ongoing testing process. Users who do not currently see the relevant options may receive them through subsequent updates.

The latest changes show WeChat continuing to refine both public interaction and private content management, adding more flexibility to how users participate in trending discussions and manage what they publish on their personal social feeds.