Australia and Canada to Test Instagram-like App, TikTok Notes
TikTok is rolling out the beta of its new photo-sharing app, TikTok Notes, a direct competitor to Meta’s Instagram.
- TikTok Notes has similar features to Instagram; however, its interface leans more toward TikTok’s feed.
- If you already have a TikTok account, transitioning to TikTok Notes won’t require sign-ups.
TikTok is gearing up to roll out its new photo-sharing app, TikTok Notes, competing directly with Meta’s Instagram.
According to TikTok’s announcement on X, the app will be dedicated to photo content, stating, “Whether documenting adventures, expressing creativity, or simply sharing snapshots of one’s day, the TikTok Notes experience is designed for those who would like to share and engage through photo content.”
Taking a page out of Meta’s book, specifically its ‘Threads’ chapter, users can seamlessly transition to TikTok Notes without the need for additional sign-ups if they have an existing TikTok account.
From what we’ve seen so far, the platform is like that of Instagram, with some differentiating features. The main difference is headlines for images. In addition to captions, users can give each image a headline. It’s a bit reminiscent of how artists title their paintings.
The user interface is also different, leaning more towards TikTok with the ‘Following’ and ‘For You’ tabs; the former shows you what the people you follow have posted while the latter presents you with what the algorithm thinks you’ll enjoy.
However, details regarding the app’s full feature set, and future expansion are still unclear. The company has yet to disclose a timeline for the app’s availability outside of the current testing regions, leaving users worldwide eagerly anticipating its broader release.
TikTok Notes feels like the natural progression for the company. That’s how social media platforms have always operated. The biggest evidence of that is how Facebook escalated into Meta. As unique social media platforms kept popping up, Facebook kept buying them. The only platform that refused to fold was SnapChat, so Facebook “got inspired” by what made it unique, the stories. Facebook made its own version and introduced it to all its platforms.
While all these social media platforms do compete with one another solely for being social media platforms, you wouldn’t consider them direct rivals. YouTube doesn’t offer the same features as Instagram, for example. The same with Facebook and Instagram. Each platform has its own category under the big umbrella of social media platforms.
With TikTok Notes, however, the company is producing a direct competitor to Instagram squarely in the same category as the competitor.
It’s one thing for an app to have a feature that is like another one and another that directly competes with what the first has to offer. What a bold move, but will it pay off?
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