What is TikTok Now and how to use it?

If the new TikTok Now app looks familiar, you’re not wrong. TikTok has essentially created a clone of another increasingly popular app, BeReal, which prompts users to take a picture with their front and rear phone cameras at a random time every day. Aside from a few features, the biggest difference between the two apps is their name. Here’s everything you need to know now.

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What is TikTok Now?

To understand TikTok Now, we must first discuss another social media app called BeReal. BeReal is a popular French social app that came out in 2020 based on the idea of ​​authenticity. Basically, it asks users to take an unfiltered photo with the face and face on Back of their camera at a random time of day for people to see where they are and what they are doing. There are no filters and no time to stage a scenic snapshot. Not the best app if you’re having an affair or leading organized crime, but otherwise it gives friends a more realistic glimpse into their day.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s hard not to call TikTok a copycat in this case. Seemingly the main difference is that BeReal is purely for photos, while TikTok Now allows users to choose between capturing a static photo or a 10-second video. Also, TikTok Now gives users three minutes to post as opposed to BeReal’s two minutes, which might give you a little more time to make sure your hair is beautiful.

TikTok is still “experimenting” with the new feature, so TikTok Now can be accessed through the TikTok app in the US. However, in other regions of the world, TikTok Now may appear as an entirely separate app. In the next section, you’ll learn how to use TikTok Now depending on where you live.

How to use TikTok Now

TikTok Now, the feature, is available for US users. With the latest update, you can find the Now button on the bottom navigation bar next to the Post button. Tap the Now button (lightning bolt icon) to see an Explore feed of TikTok Nows — or, as TikTok calls it, “a daily photo and video experience” — from the “people who matter most.” In plain language, this means Now posts that are trending or from common followers.

After you activate the new feature, you’ll receive a daily prompt to capture a 10-second video or static photo to share what you’re up to. Users must be 18 or older to share their TikTok Now posts on the Explore feed. For users 13 to 15, only your friends (people you follow who follow you back) can see and comment on your posts. Check out how to change your age on TikTok if your account settings are incorrect.

The TikTok Now app

In regions outside of the US, TikTok Now is available as a standalone app. The app works similarly to the TikTok Now experience currently built into the TikTok app in the US. But as a separate mobile app that you have to download, users can choose to receive push notifications for check-ins. This comes in handy when you want your TikTok app notifications to be muted but want to be notified of new Nows.

While BeReal alerts its users via push notifications and tells them “it’s time for BeReal” with alert emojis, TikTok Now’s notification is similar, alerting users to “time to now” with lightning emojis. Different window displays for the same function.

Since launching the app on September 18, 2022, TikTok Now has made the top 100 iPhone social networking apps in five markets; Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, Malta and Singapore. BeReal already has nearly three million people using the app daily, so time will tell if TikTok Now can catch up or not.

It should come as no surprise that TikTok is trying to capitalize on BeReal’s fame; Top companies are always inspired by each other or introduce comparable features. For example, YouTube Shorts mimicked TikTok’s portrait short-form videos. TikTok may be the first, but we doubt it will be the last to benefit from BeReal’s trending feature.

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