TikTok may be experiencing a few bumps on the road with the threat of being banned in the US, but the social media company is not letting that stop it from expanding. Now entering the photo-sharing market, TikTok is releasing an app that could rival Instagram.
TikTok Notes
Meant to be a photo-centric app, the new TikTok app is rolling out in select countries for now. Android and iOS users in Australia and Canada can now download the app for limited testing, the company announced on X.
In the post, TikTok stated that they are "in the early stages of experimenting with a dedicated space for photo and text content," and that they hope the TikTok community will use the app to "continue sharing their moments through photo posts."
Based on the official images that the company shared, users can add headlines for images above the captions, which means that users can add the gist of the image, and then further elaborate about them in smaller texts.
The homepage will have two sections that can be explored. One would contain posts from people a user follows, and the other would be a "For You" page, similar to the short-form video app. The feed will show a two-column grid filled with pictures along with the headlines.
It also appears as though users can customize whether a post will allow comments or not, and has other buttons for liking and saving the post. Users can link their TikTok account, which could make it easier to reach their followers in another platform.
According to The Verge, TikTok already announced the new photo-centric app earlier this month through a notification sent to users, although it didn't reveal much about the app other than the name, and that the photos posted on TikTok would be posted to TikTik Notes as well.
The company did not provide a timeline as to when the experimentation stage would end, or when the app will roll out in other countries. With the app already being tested out in two countries, it might see a wider rollout soon enough.
US Ban on TikTok
The company wouldn't have any problems releasing the app in other countries, although it might face challenges in the US. Even if the app does launch in the country, it might be short-lived if the app is officially banned, which is a real possibility.
For now, TikTok is awaiting the decision of the Senate as the US House of Representatives has already approved the TikTok ban bill. If the Senate approves it as well, the decision will fall on US President Joe Biden, who already said that he votes for the ban of the app.
The company will have two choices. One would be to divest and sell TikTok or part of its business to the US, or completely cut operations in the country. For now, the social media giant is working hard to protest the ban, even asking its users to join the fight against the bill.
