Thread continues as TikTok joins... SNS 'Text' War

Add Text Feature Without Separate SNS Launch
1.4 Billion Monthly Active Users... Could It Become an 'X Rival'?

TikTok announced the launch of a text-based post sharing feature, signaling a three-way competition for the position of text-based social networking service (SNS).

[Image source=Pixabay]

On the 24th (local time), TikTok revealed that it will launch a feature for sharing text-only posts, similar to Twitter. Following Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, which introduced a new SNS called 'Threads' with a similar function to Twitter, TikTok's addition of a text-based SNS feature is expected to spark a three-way battle.

TikTok is not launching a new SNS platform.

It is adding a new feature to the existing TikTok platform, which shares short videos, allowing users to share text-only posts.

This feature is similar to both Twitter and Threads, which was launched on the 5th. Therefore, TikTok is interpreted as targeting both Twitter and Threads.

However, TikTok users will be able to add background colors and music to their posts. As a result, foreign media reported that it can make posts visually more striking than Twitter or Threads.

TikTok explains, "The new feature expands the boundaries of content creation," adding, "Through this, users will be able to express their creativity in comments and captions."

The appearance of the text-based feature added by TikTok.
[Photo by TikTok]

Attention is focused on whether TikTok can establish itself as a text-based SNS. TikTok already has over 1 billion users, securing initial competitiveness.

However, Threads, which had similar conditions, rapidly emerged as a 'Twitter rival' by surpassing 100 million users within five days of its launch, but its user base dropped by 70% within two weeks.

Additionally, smaller platforms such as Bluesky and Mastodon have also entered the competition against Twitter, but so far, they have not formed a clear competitive structure.

Meanwhile, since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October last year, the platform has seen a mass exodus of users and advertisers amid various controversies. Musk revealed on the 15th that Twitter's advertising revenue had decreased by 50%.

Also, starting that day, Twitter began rebranding efforts to change its logo from the 'blue bird' to the alphabet 'X' and to transform into an "everything app" including payment functions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.