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TikTok has announced a step up from their direct message feature, as they’ve now opened the tool to include groups.
The addition will allow people to create curated groups of up to 32 people, with all involved able to share videos and chat within the group setting.
The video-sharing platform detailed the news within a company press release, writing that this will create a “shared viewing experience with friends, family, and communities.”
The feature won’t be available to everyone though, as safety measures have been implemented for teenagers who are on the app. Group chat will not be accessible to those aged 13 to 15.
Then, for those who are a little older, but are 16 to 17, they will be able to use the feature but the company says they are “taking important steps to block communication with strangers.”
This means everyone over 15, including older teens, can only be added to a group chat by their friends. These are classified as people who they follow and who also follow them back, rather than random users.
Teenagers are protected in TikTok’s group chat functionality
“If a teen is sent a link to join a group conversation, they will not be able to join unless the group includes at least one mutual friend. If they are eligible to join, they will be required to make a proactive decision to join.
“When a teen creates a group conversation, by default we will require them to review and approve new joiners,” said TikTok.
Unlike on other platforms where people can be added into groups by random people who somehow get access to their number, this new feature aims to stop this from happening.
There will be muting and blocking tools and the ability to report messages or the entire chat if the content violates community guidelines.
The amount of groups somebody can create is limited too, but the details of this aren’t yet known. The new feature isn’t yet available everywhere, but this will likely be expanded into new regions over time.
Featured Image: Via Ideogram
