TikTok users can now only post text-based content, a departure from the social media app known for its short videos.
The new format was the latest change in the social media landscape after Twitter rebranded itself as X on Sunday and Meta introduced its new text-based social media app, Topics, this month.
TikTok announced the change in a blog post Monday night, though some users They said they had access to the text-only format for the first time in June.
“Through text posts, we’re pushing the boundaries of content creation for everyone on TikTok, giving the written creativity we’ve seen in comments, annotations, and videos their own space to shine,” the company’s blog post said.
This feature allows users to post without background images, such as videos and photos, which TikTok is known for. There doesn’t seem to be a separate name for the script publishing feature.
Before the new format was introduced, users could type text over video and photo posts as well as in captions and comments. Some people may create their text-only posts by sharing screenshots of text-focused content from outside of TikTok, including from other social media apps and text messaging conversations.
TikTok text posts can be customized in the same way as video and photo posts, with music, background colors, and stickers. People can also tag other users and add hashtags. A TikTok spokesperson said in an email that text posts can be up to 1,000 characters long. The company said the app will continue to limit video descriptions to 2,200 characters and commentary to 150 characters.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has gained popularity with its visual and audio content, including short videos of people dancing and performing skits that became synonymous with the app in its early days.
More than a billion people use the app Per monthincluded 150 million people In the US, according to TikTok, though access to it has been restricted by some local and national governments due to security concerns.
TikTok’s new format follows other major changes made by the most popular social media companies.
This week, Elon Musk renamed Twitter to X and began replacing the company’s trademark logo with a new electronic logo both online and at the company’s headquarters. Last July, Twitter said it had more than 237 million daily active users.
Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook, unveiled its Twitter rival, Thread, this month. Posts focus on text, but users can also share videos and photos.
Less than a week after its debut, Meta said more than 100 million people had signed up to Thread. It is not yet clear if this early success will continue.
The leads were introduced during a time of turmoil for Twitter, which has undergone major changes since Mr. Musk bought it last year.