TikTok Introduces Text-based Content; Is This Really an Attempt To Copy Twitter?

TikTok, today announced, it is introducing text-based content on its platform. The move came as the company observed the “written creativity” in comments, captions, and videos and so aims to expand the boundaries of content creation for users on the platform.

Text is the latest addition to options for content creation, allowing creators to share their stories, poems, lyrics, and other written content on TikTok – giving creators another way to express themselves and making it even easier to create.

Critics have argued that the short-video platform, TikTok, is trying to imitate Twitter, which recently rebranded as “X” with a new logo. However, upon closer examination, the comparison should actually be made with Instagram rather than Twitter. You will soon find out why as this article goes into detail about TikTok’s new update.

The update is actually an expansion of creative options on the platform. TikTok announced a new format for creating text-based content, providing creators with more opportunities to share their ideas and express their creativity.

I have a TikTok account, but I don’t use the app frequently. The reason is quite simple: I prefer platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where I can creatively express myself using text-based content. On those platforms, I can also add pictures when needed, and that’s why I also enjoy using Instagram.

When it comes to video platforms, TikTok doesn’t quite cut it for me. I find YouTube better for learning and enjoying movies and comedy. However, with the recent addition of support for text posts, I might give TikTok another chance, even though I stopped using it a year ago.

Creating a Text Post on TikTok

The Camera page now offers three options: photo, video, and text. If you choose the text option, you’ll be taken to the text creation page where you can type your content. Text posts look like Instagram Stories, allowing you to customize the appearance with background colors, text editing, and even adding music and stickers. The posts have a character limit of 1,000.

Other users can interact with text posts just like they do with videos, by stitching, dueting, and commenting. You can also add stickers, tags, and hashtags to your text posts, and choose from various background colors. Like video and photo posts, you can save your drafts for later editing or discard them if needed.

TikTok’s Decision to Add Text is Likely A Right Move

TikTok’s new decision to introduce text-based content may lead some to believe they are aiming to compete with Twitter and Threads. Surprisingly, there were no rumors or prior notice before this move, and it was not presented as an experiment. However, there is mounting evidence that many individuals still prefer written content. For example, those like me, who have a preference for learning through reading, find it easier to grasp concepts when presented in written form rather than through training videos.

Written content plays a crucial role in boosting the ranking of videos on search engines. As pointed out by Marketing Insider Group, search engine bots are intelligent, but they cannot read video content directly. Instead, they rely on written words associated with videos to determine their relevance and rank them in search results. This highlights the significance of written content in optimising video visibility and discoverability online.