(Yicai Global) May 17 -- WeChat, China's most popular social media application, will disable mini-programs that lead to other mobile apps this week, which should reduce third-party app developers' traffic.

Tencent Holdings will restrict external links to improve its user experience after receiving many complaints about forced jumps onto other platforms, the Shenzhen-based company said in a statement on its platform on May 15.

Developers should adjust to avoid service terminations, the firm added.

After WeChat started allowing third-party developers to create WeChat mini-programs in 2017, more than 40,000 service providers have done so and their number of daily users has reached 400 million, according to data Tencent released last September.

The decision is arbitrary as there would be many other ways to limit abuse, a developer told Yicai Global. Moreover, there is a need to divert. Mini-programs cannot deliver as high-quality videos and images as standalone apps can, the person added.

Forced departures can be unpleasant so Tencent should let users decide whether to move onto another app or use a mini-program, said netizens interviewed by Yicai Global.

Editor: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi