TikTok has expanded its features by allowing users to share text-based updates alongside their videos and photo series. The move comes as platforms like Meta's Threads are aiming to challenge Twitter's dominance in the microblogging space.

Similar to Instagram Stories, text posts on TikTok allow users to choose background colours, customize text appearance, and add music and stickers to enhance their posts. With a limit of 1,000 characters, users can share their thoughts and updates in a concise manner. Other users can interact with text posts through actions like stitching, dueting, and leaving comments, just as they would with videos.

The timing of TikTok's introduction of text posts is noteworthy, given the ongoing efforts of platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon to present themselves as viable alternatives to Twitter or platforms that capture the essence of what made Twitter enjoyable. As Twitter faces challenges, including the loss of features, declining traffic, and even changes to its iconic bird logo, other apps see an opportunity to compete for a share of the social media market.

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Meta, TikTok's primary competitor in the short-form video space, recently gained attention with the launch of Threads, which enjoyed a record-breaking week. However, concerns have arisen over the drop in daily active users since its peak, and some users have been put off by the lack of a feed solely comprised of accounts they follow (Meta claims to be working on that aspect). As competition heats up, TikTok seems to be showing interest in expanding its offerings to keep up with evolving user demands and preferences.