TikTok gets a Photo Mode to rival Instagram

We've gotten used to hearing Instagram borrow features from TikTok, but now it looks like the latter is borrowing an Instagram feature, too. The company recently announced a new Photo Mode in a carousel format, allowing users to share still images on the app. As with TikTok videos, you have the option to add music to your posts. The feature is accessible through the "+" icon, too. TikTok says the feature is available in the US and most global regions.

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TikTok can see what you type and tap in its in-app browser

Whenever you tap a link in TikTok, the app will open it through an in-app browser, which is a way to keep you within the app. But security researcher Felix Krause found that when you open links in TikTok's browser, it injects JavaScript into the external site so it can monitor all keyboard input and taps. But TikTok denies it's used for malicious reasons.

According to Krause, the in-app browser "subscribes" to all inputs while interacting on the site, including sensitive details like passwords and credit card information. 

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TikTok starts testing in-app mini-games

Source:TikTok

TikTok has quietly added a small collection of mini-games into its app. There are nine games available during this testing period. Of course, you can record gameplay for these titles and share these videos on TikTok. You can just add the game on its own through the "Add link" option and selecting "MiniGame" This will allow your viewers to play a linked game by tapping the link. They can still watch videos while they play. The test is running in the US, but it's also been spotted in the UK version of the app. 

Third-party gaming studios developed the games for the platform, including Vodoo, Nitro Games, FRVR, Aim Lab, and Lotum. But ByteDance also bought a game studio, the Shanghai-based Moonton Technology, last year. This pilot test comes after a Reuters report says TikTok plans to make a "major push" into gaming. It is looking for ways to keep people in its app and increase its advertising revenue, and gaming is one of those methods. None of the current games available don't have ads or in-app purchases for now. But we wouldn't be surprised if it gets that in the future.

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TikTok wants to help you limit your screen time

Source: TikTok

TikTok is an endless pit of short-form videos. If you want some help to keep yourself off the app, it will launch a new tool to offer daily limit reminders. Teenage users (between the ages of 13 and 17) will be promoted to use this screen time limiting tool if they spend over 100 minutes in the app on a single day. 

The app will also get a Digital Wellbeing-like dashboard that shows the summary of your usage. If you use Instagram, it has a similar tool. The statistics you're shown include the amount of time the app has been opened, a breakdown of your daytime and nighttime use, and an overall counter for the amount of time you spend on the app daily.

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