TikTok is introducing a new “Friends” tab in the app’s bottom menu, which will take the place of the “Discover” tab. The new feature is expected to roll out to more users in the coming weeks. According to TikTok, “Friends Tab… will allow you to easily find and enjoy content from people you’re connected with.” However, it didn’t give any more details about the rollout or say if it would be available to all users in the future.
When users click on the Friends tab, a banner stating “watch your friends’ videos” will appear. You’ll be able to see your friends’ videos if you’ve connected with them. If not, TikTok will advise that you connect with friends through your contacts or Facebook friends. A follow button is displayed next to each name on the screen, which suggests accounts from individuals you may know.
Last month, social media strategist Matt Navarra leaked the Friends tab and noted that it would replace the Discover tab. It’s interesting that TikTok is getting rid of its Discover tab, which shows users a variety of content, like trending hashtags and videos. You can also search for specific content under the Discover tab, which is available using the search bar. Notably, there is now a search icon on the top right of the site that can be used to search for certain videos and also offers relevant searches depending on your activity and prior searches.
It’s surprising that TikTok has decided to do away with the Discover tab, as it suggests that the company wants to provide a new way of recommending content based on your real connections. It does sound odd, especially considering that TikTok already has a “Following” tab that displays all of the content from people you follow on the app, which may include your friends.
For TikTok, it’s a chance to go beyond the Following tab and portray itself as a more interpersonal app, rather than just a platform that highlights viral and popular video content. This new way of finding personal content seems to be more important to the company than trending videos seen through the Discover tab that may have shown up on your “For You” page anyway.
TikTok has been updating its app over the past few months and has recently included the ability for users to see who has seen their profile. This feature is only accessible to individuals who are 16 or older and have fewer than 5,000 followers. If you have the feature, an eye icon will appear at the upper right corner of your profile. If you click on it, you will see who has viewed your profile during the past 30 days.