TikTok to take on WhatsApp with ‘new GROUP chat feature later this year’

TIKTOK is considering launching a group chat feature that could rival WhatsApp, according to inside sources.

It’s rumoured that TikTok is working towards becoming more of a “social interactions app”.

According to Reuters, “people with knowledge of the discussions” told the news outlet about the potential plans.

Reuters said the sources did not wish to be identified because they shouldn’t be speaking to the media.

We have reached out to TikTok for comment.

A group chat feature has been avaliable on the Chinese version of TikTok, called Douyin, since 2019.

The ByteDance owned app could roll this feature out globally if it wants to keep more people on the app for longer.

Reports suggest ByteDance had discussions about the group chat feature last year.

However, the TikTok owner was said to put some features on hold due to battles with the Trump administration over spying fears.

TikTok was also banned in India last year after the Indian government accused it of using data illegally.

Reuters’ sources said ByteDance had to take all this into consideration and is reevaluating when to launch a group chat feature.

One source claimed the chats would likely be unencrypted.

That could work in WhatsApp favour though as lots of people flock to the service for the security of end-to-end encryption.

TikTok lets users create and share short videos with music and camera effects
The hit app is best known for short dance videos, lip-syncing clips, comedy sketches, and talent footage
It is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, founded by the entrepreneur Zhang Yiming
The $200billion conglomerate acquired the Musical.ly app in 2017 and merged it with TikTok, bringing millions of new users
By February 2019, TikTok and Douyin had been downloaded more than a billion times
It was the most-downloaded app on the App Store in 2018 and 2019
Cyber experts have expressed concern over ByteDance’s alleged links to the Chinese government
The Department of Defense has urged its employees to avoid using the app over national security concerns
TikTok says it does not and would not share user data with the Chinese government

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