wechat got popular all on its own. nobody is forced to install wechat. there are also no government services that you might want to use that would "encourage" you to install it.
i didn't see an pushing. and from all the social media and messaging apps that i have seen or used, wechat is the most convenient to use. it beats telegram, and it leaves whatsapp and signal in the dust with the things it can do and the convenience it provides. it really is that good.
people elsewere depend on facebook just as much as people in china depend on wechat. not more and not less. alternatives do exist for the determined. you just have to accept that you can't easily stay in contact with everyone. the same tradeof you have to make if you don't use facebook.
