TikTok Launches New Text-Only Posts, To Compete With Twitter

With competition between some of the biggest social media networks reaching a fever pitch in the past weeks, TikTok has upped the ante with the launch of its new text-only posts.

Aiming to empower content creators, the Chinese-owned video streaming app announced the launch of its text posts on Monday, giving users the ability to create and share written content up to 1,000 characters, reported ABC News. 

Users can also diversify their text-only posts with music, stickers, hashtags, and tagging locations. “At TikTok, we’re always looking to empower our creators and community with innovative tools that inspire self-expression,” the company said in an announcement. “Today we’re thrilled to announce the expansion of text posts on TikTok, a new format for creating text-based content that broadens options for creators to share their ideas and express their creativity.”

The launch of the new feature comes as other rival tech companies use the perceived chaos and disarray of the rebranding of Twitter as X to launch their own products. On Monday, Twitter’s new CEO Linda Yaccarino rebranded the platform by removing the famous Twitter bird and replacing it with a black and white letter X. Yaccarino posted a thread on the platform saying that X will be the platform that can deliver ‘everything’.

Instagram launched its own text-based option earlier this month with Threads, with much fanfare. However, it has experienced a steep drop in the number of active daily users since its launch, despite having 100 million people sign up in fewer than five days. In comparison, TikTok’s new feature will allow its more than 1 billion active users to create text-only posts with the ability to add music and other accompaniments.

Read more: TikTok Takes Proactive Step to Work with EU Regulators

Commentators have been wary of Twitter’s rebranding, noting that the move could potentially backfire. Elon Musk’s changes to the platform since his purchase in October have been labelled as “extremely risky” by commentators.

While Instagram’s Threads has been targeted at younger users, Tik Tok’s audience is still composed of mostly 12 to 15-year-olds. Its popularity as a news source amongst this age group, however, has been secured by the UK communications watchdog.

TikTok has also faced backlash recently due to its links to China, leading to restrictions over use of the app on government-owned devices in some countries. This week, the company revealed that its China-based employees can access some user data from Australia, sparking further controversy.

Despite the controversy, the company remains enthusiastic about the potential of text posts: “We’re excited to see what our community will create with text posts, a new way to express and share your creativity on TikTok,” the company said.

By offering a new way to express themselves, TikTok is hoping to differentiate itself from rivals. As the platforms continue to compete for users, tech companies, creators and long-time commentators alike are sure to keep close watch on TikTok’s next move.

Source: ABC News