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As of October, TikTok stands strong as the second most popular free app on the Apple App Store, after the platform’s seemingly endless reign as number one. Although TikTok’s growth remains unfazed, new competitors like BeReal have been on the rise this year (and it currently holds claim to #12 on the list of popular apps). To combat BeReal’s substantial growth, TikTok introduced a new feature called TikTok Now. What is TikTok Now and what does this feature means for the future of other social media platforms like Instagram?
What is TikTok Now?
Similarly to how BeReal functions, TikTok will notify you when it’s time to upload a photo or video of what you’re doing. TikTok Now allows front and back camera shots when capturing your life at that moment.
TikTok’s post states that TikTok Now “brings the authenticity of TikTok to a whole new creative experience that connects you with those closest to you.” The feature hopes to help connect with your best friends and other users on the platform.
TikTok Now is its own standalone app, but Now’s features can also be used on the main TikTok app. In order to use the app, you’ll need to have TikTok downloaded (Note: you’ll also need your own TikTok account). According to TikTok’s Help Center, accessibility to TikTok Now within the main app varies on your region. In order to use Now, you must be 13 years or older, but in countries like South Korea and Indonesia, a user must be 14+.
Features
Has TikTok Now caught your eye yet? If BeReal has you hooked, consider giving TikTok Now a try too! Here’s a list of some features:
- Users 18+ years old are given a 3-minute time period to take a post.
- You can access your old Nows in your Memories, but you won’t be able to see your friend’s previous posts.
- You won’t be able to see your friend’s current posts until you upload your own post.
- You can view Nows in the TikTok app in the Now Feed and Memories. You can also discover posts in the TikTok Now app through your Friends Feed, Explore Feed, and Memories.
- The Now Feed consists of posts from your mutuals and other suggested creators if you’re 18 and over. The Help Center states that some users might have access to Now through their Friends Tab.
- The Explore Feed on the TikTok Now app features 18+ users who post public Nows.
@iammichellegiffor How to use TikTok Now, the new feature on TT. I recommend trying out the feature now because social media rewards early adopters of new features. Let me know if you have questions about using this in your social media strategy. #socialmediastrategy #tiktoknow #tiktokforbusinessgrowth #womeninbusinessrock #entreprenurtok #tiktokcontentcreator #tiktokmarketinghacks
Being authentic and close with your friends has never been easier with BeReal. Check out NeoReach’s guide to using BeReal here.
Privacy
TikTok Now allows creators to post more impromptu (and personal) content on the platform, but that brings up some privacy concerns. How can you control who sees your content? What restrictions are in place for younger users? TikTok is committed to protecting younger users, and there are a plethora of privacy settings in place. Check out the list of safety features below:
- TikTok users 13-15 years old can only comment on Nows from their friends. This helps ensure that the user’s interactions on the platform are positive and protected.
- Any user under the age of 16 that creates an account to use TikTok Now will have their account automatically set to private. Normal TikTok accounts function the same way if the user is a certain age.
- Users under the age of 18 can’t share their posts on the Explore Feed.
Protecting younger people on TikTok is crucial to providing a safe space for creators and users. Still, TikTok is also committed to giving adult users the ability to control who sees their Now posts. Before you post, if you click on Friends can view, you can choose who can see your post (friends, followers, or everyone).
- The Friends option is for mutuals that follow you on TikTok Now. If this option is selected, only mutuals can see your posts.
- The Followers option is exclusive to private accounts. This option allows anyone who follows you to see your Now post. People that you don’t follow can still see your posts.
- The Everyone option is only for public accounts, and this option allows anyone in your region to view your post. However, users who don’t follow you (and vice versa) are unable to engage with your Now posts.
Do note that these privacy settings are only available on the TikTok Now app, so any posts found in the original app can only be seen by friends. Now posts still follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines, so keep that in mind when you post!
Check out the evolution of style and fashion from TikTok at this NeoReach blog.
The Public Response
Although TikTok Now has been criticized for being a rip-off of BeReal, the community’s reception has been generally positive. Creators began uploading funny TikToks in response to the app’s release, and many posts have gone viral. Users have begun to relate to the stress (and excitement) from TikTok Now’s ‘time to post’ notification. Some creators have been encouraging users to give Now a try, and others have been posting guides on how to use the app.
@ssiennad this is not bereal someone needs to delete that update #bereal #tiktoknow #newtiktokfeature #relatable #fyp
TikTok Now has been a hot topic on TikTok for the past month, and its release has sparked discussion among the community. Noahglenncarter, a TikTok user, gave a brief rundown on the new app and asked his fans to comment their reactions to one of his posts. Overall, the outlook of Now is positive, but some users are still a bit iffy on TikTok’s decision to essentially put BeReal into their own app.
@amanuelaref TikTok now better anyways if u ask me 🤷🏾♂️
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The Future of Other Platforms
BeReal has started a trend of authenticity on big social media platforms, and now that TikTok has invested in this trend, it wouldn’t be surprising if other apps started creating their own BeReal/TikTok Now prototype. Back in late August, Jon Porter, a news reporter at the Verge, stated that Instagram is in the works of creating a BeReal alternative called IG Candid.
Sometimes it’s okay to skip out on a trend. Learn more about why some TikTok trends aren’t for everyone at this NeoReach blog.
On August 22nd, Alessandro Paluzzi, a well-known mobile developer, leaked information on Instagram’s prototype on his Twitter account. What will this mean for other big platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, and Twitch? Well, it’s safe to assume that the drive for authentic content will become the main focal point of the last few months of 2022 and 2023.
@nickiminajscupcakke 🧍🏾♀️ #tovelo #megantheestallion #LOL #Fyp #foryou #viral #slay #tiktoknow #confused #bereal #abcxyz
