TikTok, the popular social media platform known for its viral videos, is expanding its horizons and positioning itself as more than just a social app. With the introduction of TikTok search widgets for both iOS and Android devices, the platform aims to establish itself as a search engine, catering to the evolving preferences of internet users. This move aligns with the changing landscape of online content discovery, where immersive experiences offered by platforms like TikTok and Instagram are gaining prominence over traditional keyword-based searches. However, as TikTok ventures into new territories, concerns about its influence and potential use as a propaganda outlet have also emerged.
The TikTok Search Widget is available on both Android & iOS
iPhone users can now enhance their TikTok experience with the newly available TikTok search widget. By integrating this widget into their home screens, users can conveniently access TikTok’s search functionalities, expanding the platform’s utility beyond entertainment and social interaction. Android users also have access to the TikTok search widget, along with a range of other TikTok widgets designed to enhance the user experience.
Google‘s Senior Vice President, Prabhakar Raghavan, highlighted the shifting behaviors of new internet users, emphasizing their inclination towards more immersive content discovery methods. Raghavan highlighted that young people, in particular, are less likely to turn to traditional search engines like Google when seeking information. Instead, they rely on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to explore and uncover content in more engaging and interactive ways. This change in user expectations has prompted TikTok’s pivot towards becoming a search destination, catering to the preferences of a new generation of internet users.
TikTok’s influence extends beyond entertainment, as it emerges as a growing source of news among UK adults, according to a report by regulatory agency Ofcom. This finding raises concerns among lawmakers, particularly in light of recent allegations that TikTok has been exploited as a propaganda outlet by the Chinese Communist Party. As previously reported, the app is facing a ban in the state of Montana in light of the same allegations. With its expanding role in news consumption, TikTok’s impact on public opinion and the spread of information warrants careful attention.
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(Via)
