TikTok Tests Broadcast Channels Like Instagram’s Feature
▼ Summary
– TikTok is testing a new messaging tool called “bulletin boards,” allowing brands and creators to share public, one-to-many messages with followers.
– Bulletin boards function similarly to Instagram’s broadcast channels, where only creators can post, and followers can react with emojis.
– The feature supports text, image, and video posts, enabling updates and behind-the-scenes content to be shared directly with followers.
– Early testers include People Magazine, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., and the Jonas Brothers, but wider rollout remains uncertain.
– This is another example of social networks borrowing features, like TikTok’s past adoption of Stories and Instagram’s launch of Reels.
TikTok is experimenting with a new communication tool called “bulletin boards,” designed to help creators and brands connect with their audiences more effectively. This feature mirrors Instagram’s broadcast channels, allowing accounts to send one-way updates to followers through text, images, or videos. Unlike regular posts or Stories, bulletin boards provide a dedicated space for announcements, exclusive content, and direct engagement.
Early adopters include major names like People Magazine, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., and the Jonas Brothers, showcasing its potential for both media and entertainment industries. Followers can react with emojis but can’t reply directly, keeping interactions streamlined.
The feature was first uncovered by a Threads user, highlighting TikTok’s ongoing efforts to refine its platform. While still in testing, bulletin boards could evolve further, Instagram’s version, for instance, later added polls. TikTok hasn’t confirmed a full rollout yet, but the move underscores the platform’s strategy of adopting successful elements from competitors.
This isn’t the first time TikTok has borrowed features from rivals. In 2022, it introduced Stories to compete with Instagram, which itself had previously launched Reels in response to TikTok’s short-form video dominance. The cycle of innovation and imitation continues as platforms vie for user attention.
(Source: TechCrunch)
