WeChat becomes more popular during the annual Spring Festival Gala because of its red envelope feature. (Photo : BBC)
The Chinese Lunar New Year has become fully high-tech as Tencent’s social media app WeChat takes the center-stage during its tie-up with the highly anticipated China Central Television Spring Festival Gala 2015.
Members of the audience during the annual event, which was held on Feb. 18, the Lunar New Year's Eve, are asked to shake their smartphones, where WeChat has been installed, during the show in order to get a chance of receiving the traditional red envelope containing "lucky money."
According to the social media app's record, WeChat received about 11 billion shakes while the show was on the air and had particularly gained popularity at 10:34 p.m. when 120 million red envelopes were being sent out.
Aside from the show, many smartphone users who were too busy to attend family reunions and gatherings during the Lunar New Year opted to use WeChat to send the blessings to their loved ones.
WeChat said that over 1 billion red envelopes were sent all over the country during the eve of the Lunar New Year alone.
This number, says the China Daily, is 200 times more than what the social messaging app recorded in 2014.
Netizens also noticed this change in WeChat's popularity and even lauded how the mobile app has advanced and taken advantage of the holiday season.
"I received only five Lunar New Year instant messages this year, two of which were sent automatically by shops that I frequent. It seems that WeChat has grabbed most of the attention this year, with people using it to send both wishes and red envelopes," said 32-year-old public relations officer Zhai Cuiwei from Shanghai.
"It is a great surprise to see that our bosses are giving red envelopes on WeChat groups. Even though the amount is always quite small, some as little as 0.01 yuan, it is great fun for the holiday," 27-year-old Shanghai government employee Lin Juan added.
Meanwhile, Beijing Times commentator slammed those who worry too much about mixing modern technology with tradition.
"Modern technology has facilitated communication between family members, and people should embrace it," Lian wrote.
