It is known that social media users spend most of their time on TikTok, and now the app is giving user’s more reasons to stay on the app with its latest updates.
TikTok announced on Monday (12th of August) that there will be two updates for direct messaging on its platform, adding group chats and stickers. Users can upload their own stickers with everyone on TikTok, or just find their favorites and use them to react to messages and videos sent by friends that send them in DMs.
The TikTok group chats will only have 32 people per chat, and the platform will allow the group to watch, comment, and reacting to videos in real time.
To start a group chat, the user needs to click on the inbox button, tapping on chat, choosing the friends you want to add, and press the start group chat button. For a user to take part in a group chat, you need to be invited by those who you also follow. If the user does not allow anyone on the app to message them, they will not receive any invites.
Group chats will not be allowing users between the ages of 13 to15. TikTok will only allow users 16 and above to use group chats, but there will be limitations to it.
Here’s how TikTok is going to block communication with strangers through group chats:
- Everyone, including teens, can only be added to Group Chats by their friends or people they follow and those who follow them back.
- If a teen is sent a link to join a group conversation, they cannot join unless the group includes at least one mutual friend. If they are allowed to join, they will be required to make a proactive decision to join.
- A teen who creates a group chat, they will require them to review and approve new joiners.
- TikTok is limiting the number of groups an individual can create and the number of times a message can be forwarded within groups.
TikTok is giving users more control over the group chat by having access to muting and blocking tools. It will also allow individuals to report messages or the whole group if there are violating the platform’s guidelines.
Main Image: The New York Times
