TikTok Begins Testing Its Photo-Sharing App Called Notes In Select Countries: All Details

TikTok has silently launched a direct competitor to Instagram on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in select countries. The company’s communication team released a statement on X, talking about its new app TikTok notes. The post reads, “We’re in the early stages of experimenting with a dedicated space for photo and text content with TikTok Notes.

Starting today, TikTok Notes is available for download and limited testing in Australia and Canada.” They showed off a few official images of the mobile app in a second post on the thread. These image files are aimed to provide some insight into the app’s design and features, especially for the ones who do not have access to it.

The second post on the thread also suggests that the new app from TikTok will be a photo-based social media platform. It reads, “We hope that the TikTok community will use TikTok Notes to continue sharing their moments through photo posts. Whether documenting adventures, expressing creativity, or simply sharing snapshots of one’s day, the TikTok Notes experience is designed for those who would like to share and engage through photo content”.

The new TikTok Notes app requires users to have an existing TikTok account. The company also indicated that unless the users choose to opt-out, their existing or future posts will also be visible on the new Notes app.

The pictures shared by TikTok’s communication team showcase a special headline column for the images, right above the caption section. This headline tab isn’t natively offered on Instagram. The homepage can also be seen visibly segmented into two sections. There’s a separate page provided to view posts from the ones you follow.

A ‘For You’ page has also been provided on the app which resembles Pinterest’s homepage but has a smaller two-column grid. Apart from these tweaks, the app bears a striking similarity to Instagram. However, due to its old-school nature, the app does not seem to have the ‘Stories’ feature, unlike its Meta counterpart.

TikTok had revealed their new photo-sharing app earlier this month. A notification was sent to users, announcing the app’s launch. During the unveiling, not much information was provided besides its name. There is also no clarity as to why the company chose Australia and Canada as the first countries to receive this new app. No statement has been provided on whether the TikTok Notes app will launch in the United States or other regions of the world.