TikTok could possibly be set to put down an Uno “Reverse” card on Meta, with new job listings from the app indicating that it is looking for to develop extra social engagement options, which may embody messaging, new sharing capabilities, in-stream chats, and extra.

As reported by Axios, TikTok has posted a number of new job advertisements referring to social networking components that it’s looking for to develop.

As per Axios:

“In roles posted for Android and iOS engineers based mostly in San Jose, California, TikTok says the group is trying to construct a platform that “permits customers to fulfill and work together with their real-life associates seamlessly on TikTok, and encourage them to share their life moments with one another and keep linked no matter the place they’re”. One other job itemizing, for a product supervisor for “TikTok Social” based mostly in San Jose, says the corporate is trying “to broaden the boundaries of TikTok by encouraging constructing significant social connections between customers.”

Which is a shift in focus for TikTok, which up to now has sought to make use of its omnipotent AI system to spotlight the perfect video clips from throughout all the app, versus limiting customers to content material from their particular good friend and following segments.

However the concern, seemingly, is that many customers are sharing TikTok clips off-platform, and discussing them in different apps. The broader pattern in social media is that customers at the moment are sharing increasingly more content material through DMs, with smaller teams, and it could possibly be that TikTok has seen a pointy rise in individuals utilizing its sharing instruments to push content material, and engagement, off-platform, which has now prompted it to discover its personal in-stream alternatives.

Which, as famous, may see the app trying to replicate a few of Meta’s app options, an attention-grabbing reversal of the extra widespread duplication path of late.

And it is smart. TikTok does already provide primary messaging, however the lack of emphasis on constructing a social graph within the app implies that most individuals have bigger and extra particular networks elsewhere. That might be why extra persons are sharing TikTok clips in different areas, and if TikTok can hold extra of that interplay in its personal platform, that might assist to broaden its utility, and assist it department into extra areas.

Which may embody purchasing, and facilitating in-stream purchases. That’s the place TikTok has seen probably the most income success in Asian markets, and if it may well get extra individuals spending extra time within the app, and fascinating in a broader vary of actions, possibly that may assist to gasoline several types of engagement.

Like connecting with manufacturers, and sending DMs about merchandise. The extra that TikTok could make this a recurring habits, the extra seemingly will probably be to broaden its alternatives, and as such, it looks as if a logical development for the platform to analyze.

There’s not a lot to go on as but, but it surely does seem to be TikTok shall be wading into new engagement territory within the close to future.

We’ll hold you up to date on any progress.