Many Tiktok users have noticed the app’s new additions in recent months that are eerily similar to features of Instagram. First, there were stories, then the ability to upload photos, and more recently the development of the TikTok shop. This week, the company announced a new development that further emphasizes the idea that TikTok is attempting to profit off the success of similar social media apps.
Although TikTok is a primarily video-based app, users have the option to upload photos in a slideshow-style post as well. Some users have reported that when trying to post photos on the app, they receive a pop-up notification that says the photos will also be posted on a “coming soon” platform called Tiktok Notes. Users still have the option to opt out of this feature, but it proves that TikTok is continuing to take steps to make their app more photo-focused.
According to Forbes, a site called notes.TikTok.com is currently live on the web. The website has a nonfunctioning “open app” button that teases posts that have a Poloroid-style vibe and allows for captions and likes. Officials at TikTok further told BBC that it is working on a “dedicated space” for photos and text. However, no design has been finalized nor release date been leaked to the public.
78 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 reported that they use Instagram. This exceeds the number of adults under 30 who use TikTok, with that amount coming in at 62 percent. While still a large percentage, officials at TikTok likely feel threatened by other social platforms remaining more dominant in the industry.
This is not to say Tiktok is the only culprit of a lack of uniqueness- Instagram itself has created a Tiktok “copycat” with its addition of Instagram Reels. In an age that is so reliant on technology for learning as well as entertainment, it’s not surprising that social media sites are trying every technique to satisfy their users and make even more money off of it. The possibility of TikTok Notes is far from shocking, and it will be interesting to see if the app actually implements it and how successful it will be.
