TikTok intros text-based posts

TikTok users can now post content in text-based format on the platform, in addition to its endless scrolls of videos and images.

“Text is the latest addition to options for content creation, allowing creators to share their stories, poems, recipes, and other written content on TikTok,” the company said in a blog post.

In essence, TikTok text posts work similar to Instagram stories. Users can customize the appearance of the text, add stickers, sound, and a background gradient.

TikTok’s new text posts are not only generous, with a limit of 1,000 characters, but also offer the same interactive features as videos. Users can engage with them by commenting, dueting, and stitching, just like their favorite TikTok clips.

TikTok’s decision to implement text-based posts is not only a creative move but also a savvy one. Its timing is momentous, given the current struggles of Twitter, and Meta’s alternative, Threads:

Amid negative cash flow, Elon Musk decided to get rid of the iconic Twitter bird logo. Meanwhile, Threads—a separate app, derived from Instagram—has experienced a drop in daily active users within just a week of its blockbuster launch.

Not to mention, text posts are built right inside the TikTok app itself. Which could mean that the new feature doesn’t necessarily aim to rival Twitter nor Threads, but merely provides another means to “express your creativity”.