TikTok Hiring for Social Team Signals Focus on Traditional Social Media Networking Features

TikTok

TikTok is currently recruiting product and engineering professionals to join its TikTok Social team, which is focused on "building a reliable and adaptable platform that enables users to meet and interact with their real-life friends seamlessly on TikTok, and encourages them to share their life moments with each other and stay connected regardless of where they are." This team will work on features such as Stories, comments, the Friends tab, Inbox, and TikTok Now.

Why it Matters: While TikTok positions itself as an entertainment platform rather than a social media platform, its current hiring trends suggest a leaning towards embracing true social media features. This shift shouldn't come as a surprise, as TikTok has gradually incorporated more social elements into its platform, such as the Friends tab and expanded options for direct messaging.

TikTok leads the charge as a destination for users to discover their favorite creators. However, it lags behind competitors like Instagram and Snapchat when it comes to fostering social interaction and engagement. A greater focus on traditional social media features can help TikTok become a place where users interact and engage with others.