Summary:

TikTok has launched a group chat feature, enabling up to 32 users to interact within the app.
The new feature aims to compete with established messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Apple’s Messages.
The update includes custom stickers for direct messages and enhanced safety measures for teenage users.

TikTok, the widely used video-sharing app owned by ByteDance, is venturing into the messaging realm with its latest update. The app now offers a group chat feature, allowing users to create chats with up to 32 people. This new addition is set to challenge popular messaging services like Meta’s WhatsApp and Apple’s Messages.

With this feature, TikTok users can engage in group conversations and share content, much like they have previously done with individual messages. The shift aims to transform TikTok from merely an entertainment platform into a space for meaningful conversations among friends.

The group chat feature is available to users aged 15 and older, with strict safety protocols in place for 16 and 17-year-olds. Teens can only join group chats if there is at least one mutual follower in the group, and they must approve new members if they create a chat.

Additionally, TikTok has introduced custom stickers for direct messages, allowing users to create and share personalized stickers, further enhancing the chat experience. This move reflects TikTok’s broader strategy to diversify its platform beyond video sharing.