TikTok rolls out voice notes and image sharing in DMs
The platform is introducing new ways for users to chat on TikTok, including popular features from other apps like Instagram and WhatsApp.
TikTok is expanding its direct messaging features, the platform told TechCrunch last week. Users can now send voice notes and images in DMs, bringing the platform closer in line with other popular messaging apps. These updates are rolling out gradually, so you should start to see them pop up in your app over the coming weeks.
Sharing photos and videos
You can now send up to nine images at once in a chat, plus videos of up to 60 seconds. Content can be snapped directly from your camera or pulled from your camera roll, with editing tools available before you click send.
Sending voice notes
Voice memos are also coming to TikTok DMs. Simply hold down the microphone button to record a message up to 60 seconds long, and it’ll automatically send as soon as you let go. Change your mind and want to cancel it? Just swipe up or left to cancel before it goes through.
This is a handy option for users who prefer speaking rather than typing out a message.
Safety at the heart of it
TikTok is pairing these new features with stronger safety protections, particularly for younger users.
For starters, TikTok doesn’t even allow DMs for users under the age of 16, with future protections lined up for those users aged between 16 and 18. For example, the platform will automatically block images that contain nudity to prevent them being sent.
Other measures include:
- Strangers can’t send images or videos in their first message request, helping to prevent unwanted spam messages.
- TikTok will remind users of their own privacy before sending photos or videos, while encouraging more mindful sharing.
These updates build on the company’s strong stance of safety initiatives, like the parental controls and screen-time tools introduced earlier this year.
Rounding off
For TikTok, this is another step toward becoming more than just a place for short-form videos. With voice notes, photos, and videos in DMs, the app is moving closer to the kind of all-in-one communication that users are used to, and expect, from social media platforms.