TikTok announced on Thursday that it is upgrading its comment section with a suite of new interactive tools, including voice messages, polls, photo carousel comments, and Live Photo capabilities. The social media platform aims to borrow from messaging app functionalities to encourage users to spend more time interacting within the comments area rather than simply viewing video content.
In a blog post, TikTok highlighted the platform’s long-standing connection to audio, noting, “Sound and music have shaped TikTok from the very beginning… Now, we’re bringing that same energy to the comment section with Voice Comments.” Users can now record audio messages up to one minute long by tapping the microphone icon in the comment box. These voice comments are being rolled out globally to users aged 18 and older over the next month.
Regarding safety, a TikTok spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that voice comments are subject to the same Community Guidelines as all other content. The company employs both human moderators and automated detection tools, including speech-to-text transcription, to identify and remove policy-violating material.
Additionally, creators will now have global access to add polls to their own videos, a feature previously limited to select regions. Creators can include up to five voting options and set a specific timeframe for the poll. This tool is designed for various uses, such as gauging audience preferences for future video ideas, outfit choices, or meal plans. Results will be trackable directly within the comment thread.
The update also expands photo-sharing capabilities. Users can now attach up to nine photos in a single comment, replacing the previous limit of one. Furthermore, Live Photo comments, which offer a brief motion preview before revealing the full image, are now available globally. Photo carousel comments will follow a similar rollout schedule, becoming available to users worldwide over the coming month.
Finally, voice comments! I always type too slow anyway. The photo carousel sounds like a game changer for fashion content creators.
I’m skeptical about how this impacts safety. Transcription tools aren’t foolproof, and I wonder if hate speech will just slip through the cracks.