By TikTok, the popular app known for viral videos, is gearing up to transform itself into a messaging powerhouse. Although TikTok is primarily seen as a platform for sharing short videos, its parent company, ByteDance, is actively recruiting for a team called “TikTok Social” with the aim of enhancing TikTok’s messaging features.
These job listings provide insight into TikTok’s ambitions. One listing for an engineering lead states, “We are the messaging team on TikTok, and our mission is to enhance TikTok’s messaging experience, which is still in its early stages.” Meanwhile, a backend tech lead listing mentions collaborating across different regions to develop a unique messaging solution for TikTok. Additionally, a product manager for the TikTok Social team should have a strong passion for social engagement to make a significant impact.
Although the specific details of TikTok’s overall product plan remain undisclosed, one listing mentions that the Social team oversees various features, including User Profiles, Stories, Messaging, and more. When combined, these elements create what appears to be a messaging app, similar in some ways to Instagram’s messaging features.
Currently, TikTok offers direct messaging, but its functionality is limited. A backend tech lead job posting acknowledges that TikTok’s messaging experience is still in its early stages and calls for candidates to explore and implement various social solutions, collaborating with teams from different countries and regions.
TikTok originally started as a platform for sharing and viewing viral videos, with its groundbreaking algorithm prioritizing viral content over content from known users—a model that has since been adopted by many other social media companies. Now, TikTok seems poised to expand its scope to become a robust messaging platform as well.
