WeChat may have removed their verification requirement?

[MoonIvy]

Recently a few friends of mine were able to sign up to the international WeChat (downloaded from Google Play) using their phone number without any form of friend verification. After setting up their account, they were able to sign into Chinese services like 微信读书 without any issues.
 

If you have been trying to sign up to WeChat, give it another and see if the verification has been removed for you. I would absolutely love to confirm if this is the case.

[Lenao]

I downloaded it yesterday and it asked me the same verification as always.