TikTok Friends DiscoverMalikTechCrunch has started rolling out a new “Friends” tab to more users, replacing the app’s existing “Discover” tab. It will show you content from friends you follow, and will also prompt you to connect with more people to expand your in-app interactions.
Bolster TikTok’s Social Features
The change marks another effort to bolster TikTok Friends DiscoverMalikTechCrunch social features in an attempt to compete with Instagram. This new tab may be more important to the app’s future than it might appear at first glance, as it could lead to more personal sharing and more in-app engagement.
TikTok’s Communications Team
TikTok Friends DiscoverMalikTechCrunch is replacing its Discover tab with a new one that will let users find content from people they have connected with. This feature will be rolled out to more users over the next few weeks, according to TikTok’s communications team.
The company also tweeted on May 5 that the Friends tab will “allow you to easily find and enjoy content from people you’re connected with.” It’s a personalized experience that encourages you to connect your account with your phone contacts and Facebook to find existing friends and more easily see their videos, TikTok says.
Prioritizing Relatable Content
Unlike the Discover tab, which recommends videos based on trending hashtags and video searches, the new Friends tab will only show suggestions from people you have connected with or friends who follow you. This may be a sign that TikTok is prioritizing relatable content over more viral and popular content.
TikTok has launched a new tab that suggests videos posted by your friends. This replaces the platform’s current “Discover” tab that shows users a range of suggested content, like trending hashtags.
Instagram & Snapchat
This move seems to indicate that TikTok is testing a shift away from random content in favor of more personal connections between its users. It is likely an attempt to generate more 1-on-1 engagement as it tries to close the gap in popularity between TikTok and rivals including Instagram and Snapchat.
Initially, the Friends tab will only show content from your friends’ videos on TikTok. However, the app will also suggest accounts from people you might know and display a follow button next to their names.
Platform’s Existing Discover Tab
The upcoming feature is a big change from the platform’s existing Discover tab, which currently recommends bite-sized video content based on viewing history and other algorithms. Whether this change will impact the amount of organic reach and engagement that some creators receive is unclear, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
TikTok’s personalized “For You” feed is a key part of its user experience, helping users find content that matches their tastes and interests. Powered by a recommendation algorithm, the For You feed offers a diverse selection of videos, ensuring that each user gets a personalized experience.
Behavior & Interactions
Over time, the system learns what you like by monitoring your viewing behavior and interactions with videos. This helps it understand which creators and videos you love and what you’re not interested in.
However, this also means that there’s a risk of showing you content that you don’t like. This is why the platform is launching a new feature that will offer users more context about why a video appears in their For You feed.
TikTok’s Transparency
The move is part of TikTok Friends DiscoverMalikTechCrunch transparency push that aims to make its recommendations more clear and explainable. This follows years of ambiguity about the app’s algorithms.
TikTok, the popular video app, is rolling out a new “Friends” feed that’s replacing its Discover tab. The Friends page will showcase videos from followers that you follow back and other suggested accounts from the TikTok community.
Final Words:
While the Friends tab may seem a little odd, some users and creators believe it could be a good way to discover new content on TikTok. The change will benefit people who want to keep up with their friends more than strangers, but it won’t benefit people who are trying to grow to a page by reaching new audiences.
In addition to the Friends tab, TikTok is also testing a repost button that lets users re-share clips they already like on the platform. This is a first for the app, and could help it re-engage users.
