TikTok isn’t simply a short video app anymore. The company has confirmed that it is releasing a big update for messaging that will add voice notes and more ways to share media to its direct messages (DMs). This change makes TikTok’s messaging services as good as those of competitors like WhatsApp and Instagram. It is a purposeful move to get users more involved and keep them on the app longer.
A company representative said that users can now record and send voice notes that are up to one minute long and send up to nine pictures or videos in a single DM. The new features will be available in both group and one-on-one chats. Over the next few weeks, they will be rolled out to users all over the world.
The upgrade takes advantage of a trend among Gen Z, who research shows are more and more likely to use voice notes to talk to each other. A lot of younger people think that voice notes are a better way to communicate since they are more personal and emotive than text messages.
There are a number of safety features that come with the new features. People under 16 still can’t use DMs at all. TikTok’s automated systems will find and block pictures with nudity for those between the ages of 16 and 18. Adults can optionally choose to set this function on. The firm also says that users can’t send someone a voice note or video that they made themselves as their first communication. They can only share content that is already on TikTok.
TikTok is late to the game, but the new features are a big step forward. WhatsApp added voice notes in 2013, and Instagram did the same in 2018. The change, nevertheless, shows that TikTok wants to go beyond its video-based foundations and become a full-fledged social network where users can connect with one other in private.
TikTok Just Got a Major Upgrade: Voice Notes Arrive to Transform the App
