It appears that the Beijing-based social media company TikTok is set to launch a new photo and text-sharing platform called TikTok Notes, which bears a striking resemblance to Instagram. Users have reported receiving pop-ups when sharing photo posts on TikTok, informing them that their photos will also be shared on the upcoming TikTok Notes platform, with an option to opt out if desired.
Despite the similarities to Instagram, TikTok Notes seems to be a unique platform that is currently live on notes.tiktok.com. The site features Polaroid-esque photo posts with still photos and text in an open white space, resembling the layout of Instagram. TikTok has yet to announce a release date for the new app, and the design has not been finalized, but the company has confirmed that it has been working on creating a dedicated space for photos and text within the TikTok platform.
The phenomenon of social media platforms copying features from one another is not uncommon, according to Mike Proulx, a research director at analysis firm Forrester. He stated that when these copycat features are executed well, they can be successful, as seen with Instagram’s introduction of the “Stories” feature to rival Snapchat. However, there is no guarantee of success, as evidenced by Twitter’s unsuccessful attempt at the “Fleets” story feature.
TikTok is also reportedly experimenting with other formats, such as 30-minute videos similar to YouTube and text posts to compete with platforms like X and Threads. The company has expressed a commitment to innovating the TikTok experience and empowering its community to create and share their creativity through photos and text. While the success of TikTok Notes remains to be seen, TikTok appears to be actively working on expanding its platform and features to provide a more diverse and engaging experience for its users.
