Direct Messaging…! Is TikTok is taking on WhatsApp with direct messaging
TikTok is attempting to compete with WhatsApp and Apple by introducing a new direct texting option. The popular social networking app has gradually expanded beyond its short-form films to incorporate other functions, including a new TikTok Photos application.
TikTok is a global platform for entertainment and connection. Whether you’re browsing through your #ForYou feed for the newest trends, keeping up on your favorite athletes’ #Olympics, or looking for your next page-turner on #BookTok, TikTok makes it simple to discover engaging and relevant content from our worldwide community. And, to make connecting over entertainment on TikTok even easier, we’re delighted to provide new options to produce and share great content with your friends.
In a press statement on TikTok’s newsroom website, the firm said: “We know our community likes Direct Messages and how easy it is to share related material with friends, find new videos, and keep up to date on the newest trends.
“To enhance user experience and make connecting with friends even more seamless and enjoyable, we’re excited to introduce new updates that elevate DMs, including the highly requested group chat feature, and give you more control over your messaging experience on the platform.”
TikTok’s direct messaging, like Apple’s Messages, will feature Stickers, allowing users to express themselves with fun and creative alternatives, including the ability to submit unique stickers for everyone to use.
TikTok’s messaging service will also have a Group speak function, which allows users to speak with up to 32 others and share their favorite videos. Group Chat and Direct Messaging will not be available to individuals aged 13 to 15. Older teenagers will be safeguarded in the following ways:
Stickers
On TikTok, we express our love by producing and exchanging films to one another. We are continually looking for ways to improve our game and offer useful and visually appealing tools for our community. Our fundamental values include creative expression and accessibility and we extended that spirit to DM features with the introduction of Stickers. Stickers offer entertaining and innovative visual conversation alternatives, encouraging the community to design and share their own personalized stickers for everyone to use.
Tiktok Group Chat
TikTok promotes self-expression by making it easy to share honest and relatable material. Group Chat taps on this ability, allowing you to share a viewing experience with friends, family, and communities. Watch, comment, and reply in real time, making each encounter more dynamic and interconnected. People may create dedicated groups of up to 32 people using group chat and quickly share their favorite videos.
When building features, we consider how we might include safety into the design, particularly for teenagers. Group Chat, like Direct Messaging, is not available for users aged 13 to 15. To ensure that older kids 16-17 can benefit from this tool, we are taking critical efforts to restrict communication with outsiders. This means:
- Everyone, even adolescents, may only be added to a Group Chat by their friends (people they follow who follow them back).
- If an adolescent receives a link to a group discussion, they will be unable to participate unless the group contains at least one common buddy. If they meet the eligibility requirements, they must make a proactive decision to join.
- When a teen starts a group chat, we will automatically require them to assess and approve new members.
In addition, to assist everyone feel at ease with who they are messaging, individuals will be able to utilize muting and blocking capabilities, as well as report messages or the entire conversation if they believe the content violates our Community Guidelines. We also limit the number of groups that may be created and how many times a message can be sent.
TikTok allows you virtually boundless creative expression. We’re continuously exploring for new ways to improve the TikTok experience and bring that slogan to life for our worldwide community, and we’ll keep introducing features that allow you to find shared enjoyment through true relationships.
TikTok, like Elon Musk’s X and other social media platforms, is gradually promoting itself as a “everything app” that allows users to view videos, submit photographs, communicate pals and do other things. Whether it will be popular remains to be seen.