To compete with Instagram, TikTok has launched 'TikTok Stories,' a new feature that allows users to post content that will live on their profiles for a 24-hour period before disappearing. Of course, the new feature closely resembles that of Instagram Stories, which similarly allows users to post photos and videos for a limited time period.
However, unlike Instagram's version, TikTok Stories will provide users the ability to leave comments on one another's posts, which will be visible to all of the poster's followers. In addition, differing from Instagram, when a user posts a TikTok Story they will only be able to see the number of people who have viewed it, not the specific profiles of those who opened it.
Currently, TikTok Stories are being pilot tested on the platform, though the company plans to roll out the feature publicly sometime in the coming months.
TikTok Stories
TikTok Launches Pilot Version of 'TikTok Stories' to Compete with Instagram
Trend Themes
1. Social Media Story Features - Businesses in social media can develop their own story features to compete with TikTok and Instagram, providing more unique features for the users.
2. Comments on Stories - Companies can create similar but augmented versions of TikTok Stories that allow viewers to comment on individual stories and have their comments visible to all, providing more engagement opportunities for users.
3. View Counts on Stories - TikTok's ability to show only view counts and not specific profiles of viewers provides a unique opportunity for companies to maintain user anonymity while still gauging engagement on their platform.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - Social media companies should take a cue from TikTok and integrate story-sharing features on their platforms to provide users will more ways to share content on the same platform.
2. Video Production - Video production companies can create instructional content that teaches businesses and individuals how to use social media story features and make more engaging content for their audience.
3. Mobile App Development - Mobile app development companies should develop augmented versions of story features that allow users to engage with each other even more than TikTok Stories' current iteration.