Russia sees WeChat, Douyin as models for its homegrown Max messenger

Russia sees Chinese tech giant Tencent’s (0700.HK) WeChat messaging app and TikTok sister app Douyin as models for developing its own struggling ​Max messaging app, Vladimir Kiriyenko, CEO of state-controlled internet firm VK (VKCO.MM), ‌said on Wednesday.

The Kremlin is pushing Russians to use Max instead of Telegram, currently the country’s most popular messaging app, but is facing stiff resistance from users, who argue ​that Max lags far behind its rival in terms of functionality.