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

As per Axios:

“In roles posted for Android and iOS engineers primarily based in San Jose, California, TikTok says the crew is seeking to construct a platform that “allows 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 related no matter the place they’re”. One other job itemizing, for a product supervisor for “TikTok Social” primarily based in San Jose, says the corporate is wanting “to increase the boundaries of TikTok by encouraging constructing significant social connections between customers.”

Which is a shift in focus for TikTok, which to this point has sought to make use of its omnipotent AI system to spotlight the most effective video clips from throughout your complete app, versus limiting customers to content material from their particular buddy 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 are actually sharing increasingly more content material by way of 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, might see the app seeking to replicate a few of Meta’s app options, an attention-grabbing reversal of the extra frequent duplication path of late.

And it is smart. TikTok does already supply 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 may be why extra individuals are sharing TikTok clips in different areas, and if TikTok can hold extra of that interplay in its personal platform, that might assist to increase its utility, and assist it department into extra areas.

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

Like connecting with manufacturers, and sending DMs about merchandise. The extra that TikTok could make this a recurring conduct, the extra probably it is going to be to increase its alternatives, and as such, it looks like a logical development for the platform to analyze.

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

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