TikTok Introduces New Update
TikTok’s popularity as one of the social media apps with the quickest growth means that new features are frequently added to improve the user experience. With the platform’s typical layout, including the “For You” page and the “following feed,” it can sometimes be challenging for users to browse specific types of content.¹ TikTok has recently introduced additional dedicated video feeds for its users as a way to improve the user experience.
Everything You Need to know about the New Update
TikTok has introduced new video feeds, which include categories such as Gaming, Food, Fashion, and Sports. Before the update, the current “For You” page pushed unsorted content, leading to a disrupted and cluttered user experience.² The new update addresses these issues by allowing users to scroll through genre-specific categories rather than having to manually search the topics of their interests on the “For You” page. By creating focused feeds, TikTok aims to allow users to enjoy a more tailored experience.
Improvements in User Experience
TikTok has decided to enhance its features to keep up with the evolving needs of its users. The platform’s most recent update aims to appeal to a more focused audience by adding designated categories. The move could also be an attempt by the company to keep up with demand.³ In comparison, YouTube has featured topic categories on its homepage, enabling users to quickly discover content based on their preferences, such as music, gaming, or podcasts.⁴ Users seeking better structure within the app and the flexibility to watch videos
according to their mood may find this update helpful. Others may not appreciate the change as it could make the app’s homepage appear overcrowded with an already extensive range of content.⁵ As TikTok continues to grow, the platform will most likely continue to introduce new features to enhance user experience.⁶ It is still unclear whether the app will stick to just four categories or if more categories will be added in the future. Between the diverse needs of TikTok’s growing user base and a platform that cares to stay relevant, adding more categories wouldn’t be implausible.
Written by: Nayeli Garcia, Cynthia Estrada, Gwendolyn Miller
Image Design by: Justina Andrawis
Attributions:
1. https://hubbleaiadvisory.com/2023/02/16/tiktok-adds-dedicated-videofeeds-for-sports-fashion-gaming-and-food/
2. https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2023/02/tiktok-rolls-out-newdedicated-feeds-on.html
3. TikTok adds dedicated video feeds for sports, fashion, gaming and food | TechCrunch
4. TikTok Expands with New Dedicated Video Feeds for Sports, Fashion, Gaming, and Food (techshotsapp.com)
5. https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/search/label/news?updatedmax=2023-02-18T12:33:00%2B05:00&max-results=20&start=39&by-date=false
6. https://techcult.com/tiktok-adds-dedicated-video-feeds-for-sports-fashion-gaming-and-food/