TikTok fans, your prayers have been heard. The social video giant announced today that group chat, one of the platform’s most requested features, is finally coming in a new update. Group chat will allow users to share their favorite videos, the latest trends, and the best memes with their friends without switching apps.
However, like direct messaging on TikTok, this group chat feature won't be accessible to everyone.
Group chats are not available to TikTok users under the age of 15, and additional safeguards have been put in place to protect users under the age of 18 who participate in the group chat “co-viewing experience” that allows users to watch and react together in real time.
Users can only be added to a group chat by a friend — someone they follow who also follows them. And for teens under 18, joining a group chat via a link is only possible if the chat includes a mutual friend. In such cases, teens must actively choose to join the group rather than being automatically added, and any teen who creates a chat must review and approve all new additions.
Security vs social connectivity
This move by TikTok isn’t entirely altruistic. While it will undoubtedly save users the few seconds it takes to share a link on an external chat app, it also reduces the need to leave the TikTok app, allowing users to continue interacting with its algorithm.
But for a company that has faced controversy since its inception and is currently being sued by the US Department of Justice for “widespread violations of children's privacy laws,” it's encouraging to see TikTok taking steps to improve safety for younger users.
TikTok already has a minimum age requirement of 13, and users under 16 are restricted from accessing riskier features like live streaming and direct messaging. However, these safeguards are undermined by the ease with which a 13-year-old can lie about their age and therefore gain access to restricted content. That’s why additional safety features for all users (like requiring mutual friends before adding someone to a group chat) are so crucial.
While these measures may make the process more complicated for adult users, as TikTok continues to expand, keeping user safety a priority will be key to maintaining trust and staying on the right side of lawmakers.
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