TikTok is reportedly testing a new feature called "Streaks," similar to Snapchat's streak mechanism, which encourages user engagement by displaying an emoji or badge next to a friend's name if users exchange direct messages for consecutive days.
To start a streak, users must exchange messages for more than three consecutive days, after which a streak badge with a count of consecutive days will appear in the chat. If users fail to message for 24 hours, the streak is broken, and TikTok will send reminders to users close to losing their streaks to promote ongoing interaction.
The feature is being selectively tested with a limited group of users in specific markets, and users can disable the streak system in the app's privacy settings. Parents can also use the Family Pairing feature to restrict children's inboxes, addressing concerns about potential harm to children's mental health and online predators targeting children on the platform.
TikTok is also testing longer video formats, such as 60-minute-long video uploads, to captivate users for longer periods and potentially increase income for content creators, aiming to become a major player in online entertainment.
Sources: ReadWrite, Mashable, TechCrunch, dunyanews.tv, fanpage.it, htxt.co.za, itechpost.com, socialbarrel.com
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
