Here’s something you don’t see on TikTok everyday. Probably because something like this wasn’t even meant for TikTok from the beginning. TikTok is currently testing out a new ‘Repost’ option that enables users to basically re-share their TikTok clips to followers. Said ‘reposted’ clip will then be available on their connections’ feeds.
Inspired
This screenshot by Kev Adriano, shared by Matt Navarra, shows that some users are now even able to see an actual ‘Repost’ button in their sharing options. Reposting now essentially amplifies clips by re-sharing it in both the ;Following’ and ‘For You’ feeds of your connections; the single button hits two algorithms with one code – a bit of a nerdy statement, but you most likely get what I mean.
When you repost the clips of others, your connections will also see what you’ve re-shared. They’ll also know that it has been re-shared because it’ll show in the video details, along with any comments you’ve made on the clip/s.
In simplest terms, it’s a rather convenient way to boost clips that interest and/or entertain you, along with having the ability to share them with all of your friends and connections at once, as opposed to having to do so individually. The slight contrast here is that TikTok is actually testing an element that other social and messaging platforms mainly connote as having a ‘negative’ impact, at least in line with user engagement and related factors.
For example, Twitter removed straight re-tweets as an option leading into last year’s US election. Twitter did so in response to the blind amplification of political messaging and misinformation, the rapid rise of which it sought to staunch. Twitter’s data showed that such an approach, to a limited degree, worked. It worked well enough, at least, in prompting more thoughtful Tweet discussion. Likewise, WhatsApp also implemented its own set of rules to limit the redistribution of messages within its channel in order to stop the spread of various kinds of misinformation regarding the pandemic.
From these examples, we kind of get an idea why other platforms view the ability to easily ‘re-share’ content as primarily negative – it makes it easier to redistribute posts that may contain fallacious or totally bogus information, which in turn only add to the rate of spreading, all in a mere push of a button. Though TikTok isn’t necessarily seen as a source of misinformation and harmful hoax campaigns, adding a ‘repost’ option does make it more likely to fall victim to similar scenarios, which could mean trouble.
The Wrap
Let’s give TikTok the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps its introducing the option in full knowledge of all possible risks, under the premise of simply increasing engagement by essentially amplifying videos between friends that know that they’ll like each other’s content. The option isn’t exactly available to users just yet, as it’s still being tested. Depending on how tests and mock results go, TikTok still has the option to possibly roll it back.
Either way, out of most other platforms, TikTok is the one with the nicer background. It’s mainly been seen as an organic environment that encourages community interaction, authenticity, and good vibes. While we can’t really demand any hard proof, the TikTok community can more than certainly vouch for its reputation.
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