Chinese in America express worry over Trump's WeChat ban

'Super app' essential to keep in touch with family and friends back home

Many WeChat users in the U.S. are facing the prospect of losing a crucial tool to keep in touch with family and friends in China. © Reuters

MARRIAN ZHOU and YIFAN YU, Nikkei staff writers

August 8, 2020 06:50 JST

NEW YORK/PALO ALTO, U.S. -- When Clare Liu heard about U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to ban the popular Chinese messaging app WeChat, she immediately thought of her parents.

"WeChat is the main app that I use to chat with my parents in China, now I have to think about an alternative way to contact them," said Liu, 26, a finance professional living in New York, adding that she has tried Skype but it's not as convenient.