TikTok users can now enjoy group chat with direct messages

If you’re a TikTok user, you have to leave the app to chat with a group of other users — until now. TikTok announced that it’s updating Direct Messages to add group chat and stickers.

TikTok Group Chat in Direct Messages

We all know how addictive browsing TikTok videos can be. It’s hard to quit the app once you start. But if you want to share a new video you found with your friends, you have to leave the app to connect with your friends all at once. It’s no wonder TikTok has found a way to keep you on the app.

Even better than sharing a link in a TikTok group chat, it looks like you can watch videos together in real time. TikTok announced that the group chat lets you “create a shared viewing experience with friends, family, and communities. Watch, comment, and react together in real time.”

You can enjoy this shared experience with up to 32 people. Although it seems like if you have a group of 32 people, you won’t all be watching in real time. This can become a scheduling nightmare.

Tip: You can also download TikTok videos to watch them anywhere.

Keeping Teens Safe

TikTok also takes care of the safety of teenagers in the group chat. It is not available for people aged 13 to 15. People aged 16 to 17 can use it with supervision. In addition, teenagers, like anyone else, can only be added to the chat by a friend.

If teens receive a link to join a group chat on TikTok, they can’t join unless there’s at least one mutual friend in the chat. They also have to make a “proactive decision to join.” If they create a group chat, they’ll have to review and approve the people who join it.

There are also blocking and muting tools, and messages or the entire group chat can be reported to TikTok if they violate Community Guidelines. One person can only create a certain number of groups. The number of times a join message can be sent is also limited.

ATTENTION: learn how to set up parental controls on TikTok.

Who doesn’t love stickers and chatting with friends?

In addition to group chats, TikTok is also adding stickers to direct messages to add fun and creativity to communications. TikTok hopes this will encourage users to create and upload custom stickers, then share them for others to use.

If you just want to watch a few videos with your friends and talk about it, there’s no reason to leave the TikTok app. You can have a group chat, add stickers, and have a great time. The question is whether TikTok users will take the bait and switch to the group messaging app. Check out how to have group chats on Snapchat.

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