TikTok Is Launching TikTok Notes, A Standalone App For Photo Posts
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TikTok will soon launch a new app for photo posts called TikTok Notes, according to the notifications users have been receiving lately. According to them, existing and future public TikTok photo posts will appear on TikTok Notes, with users having the option to opt-out.
Why It Matters: Apart from longer videos, photo posts have been another content format that TikTok has been encouraging creators to share. They highlight the benefits of photo posts for creators, such as "1.9x more likes and 2.9x more comments than videos on average.”
Despite the current popularity of video content, photo-first creators still desire a dedicated space for photos. Instagram seems to have recognized this as well, despite fully embracing Reels. It has been testing the ability for creators to upload 15 frames in a carousel and include photos in its bonus program, which compensates creators based on the performance of their content.
With photo-first creators somewhat underserved, it makes sense for TikTok to cater to this demographic as it can attract new creators, increase its search and discovery capabilities, and open up new opportunities for ad placements.
However, launching a standalone app might not be the best strategy, despite it aligning with the recent trend of social media platforms launching new apps — for example, Meta launched Threads, Pinterest launched Shuffles, and TikTok’s parent company ByteDance launched Lemon8. A better alternative would be adding a dedicated feed for photo posts, as this would eliminate the need for users to download yet another app but also minimize the additional attention that it would bring as it faces a potential ban.
