TikTok Embraces Text-Based Posts: Expanding Horizons of Expression and Creativity on the Platform

In a groundbreaking move, the popular short-form video service TikTok has announced its support for text-based posts, keeping up with the global trend towards text-based blogging platforms like Meta’s (formerly Facebook’s) Threads and the significant rebranding efforts of Twitter.

TikTok’s evolutionary journey started as a platform for short videos, but it quickly expanded to support longer videos and photo sharing, aiming to compete with Instagram’s Reels, which focuses on short video clips. 

The latest addition to TikTok is the support for text-based posts, catering to users who may not prefer video-based content, this new feature allows content creators to publish their stories, poetry, song lyrics, and other written content on the platform, giving them a fresh means of self-expression.

Now, when users open the camera in the app, they have the option to choose from photo, video, or text, opting for text will redirect them to a text creation page where they can start writing, similar to other platforms that support text-based publishing, users can enhance their content by adding soundtracks, effects, enabling comments, and allowing duets.

TikTok assures that text-based posts will be just as interactive and dynamic as photo and video posts, as users can add stickers, tags, and emojis to enrich their content.

Moreover, users have the freedom to choose from a variety of background colors, similar to photo and video posts, they can save drafts and revisit them for editing or post them at a later time.

The Chinese company states, “At TikTok, we are always looking to empower our content creators and community with innovative tools that facilitate self-expression”, they further add, “We are delighted to announce the availability of text-based posts on TikTok, a new format that expands content creators’ options to share their ideas and creativity”.

Text-based posts could prove to be an intriguing option for users, especially for those who prefer sharing textual content over videos or images, the success of Meta’s Threads, which prioritizes text-based content, stands as evidence of meeting user’s needs.

While Twitter continues to update its policies and imposes restrictions on non-paying users through Twitter Blue, TikTok seems to be aiming to offer alternatives to users who wish to share text-based content, this choice might be part of their strategy to differentiate themselves from direct competition with Twitter and focus on driving further growth in their user base.”