TikTok is reportedly growing a brand new nonetheless picture app to compete with Instagram.
Eagle-eyed observers have noticed new references to “TikTok Images” throughout the back-end code of the app.
The code seems to counsel that TikTok customers will quickly begin receiving prompts, encouraging them to share nonetheless photos within the new app to “attain like-minded individuals who take pleasure in picture posts,” in accordance with The SpAndroid.
Why we care. If TikTok had been to launch a rival to Instagram, it might provide entrepreneurs one other likelihood to achieve and join with Gen Z, given TikTok’s reputation amongst this demographic.
Launching quickly? Within the backend code of TikTok, builders have noticed a brand new welcome message hinting on the attainable existence of the reported Instagram competitor, that reads:
- “TikTok Images will probably be launched quickly, we hope that will help you achieve new audiences within the new app. If the change is on, we’ll sync your public images to the brand new app, whether or not you shut the pop-up or not.”
Hints. The information comes after TikTok launched a devoted “photo mode” for nonetheless photos in-stream in 2022. The platform mentioned on the time:
- “Picture Mode permits you to share carousel posts of nonetheless photos that robotically show one after one other. You’ll be able to add music to soundtrack the photographs, which viewers can swipe by way of at their very own tempo.”
Extra just lately, TikTok has additionally been encouraging customers to share extra nonetheless photos, teasing this content material has the potential to generate extra feedback, likes and shares. Lia Haberman, influencer advertising and marketing lecturer at UCLA, shared a screenshot of the immediate on Threads:
Haberman then commented:
- “TikTok is operating an in-app promo encouraging individuals to publish images, which they declare, in comparison with movies, can get: 2.9x extra feedback 1.9x extra likes 2.6x extra sharesInteresting transfer for the app previously generally known as the short-form video app.”
- “As soon as I posted this on LinkedIn and Twitter individuals advised me their carousels are performing rather well so I suppose the algorithm enhance actually does assist.”
Why now? Xiaohongshu, China’s model of Instagram, has notably been doing extraordinarily properly after introducing eCommerce options to the app. In 2023, the platform revamped $500 million in revenue, far more than anticipated, and now has over 200 million customers in China. Given its success, it is smart that ByteDance, the corporate behind TikTok which relies in Beijing, is engaged on an identical platform to faucet into this market.
Furthermore, with TikTok going through a attainable ban in the U.S., it’s logical for ByteDance to speed up the launch of a brand new platform earlier than any potential ban takes impact.
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What TikTok is saying. TikTok didn’t immeidately reply to Search Engine Land’s request for remark.
