TikTok’s road to becoming a super app
Although TikTok is widely described as a social media giant, it’s been gradually moving beyond that category.
Although TikTok is widely described as a social media giant, it’s been gradually moving beyond that category.
The short version
- Over time, the video app added TikTok Shop, a map for local discovery, robust search, games, and so much more.
- Recently, it’s added hotel booking capabilities and is pursuing a fintech license.
- It appears that TikTok is taking steps to evolve into a “super app,” a single platform where users can do much more than just watch and share videos and that can actually handle a wide range of needs in one destination.
- The super app model is big in China with apps like WeChat, which is kind of like Facebook, WhatsApp, Apple Pay, and an app store all rolled into a single platform.
What happened
Of course, there’s the question of whether a super app model would work outside of China, but that doesn’t mean TikTok won’t try. Instead of switching between apps, TikTok is working to become the app that people use for most of their digital activities.
Why it matters
After taking its biggest leap with TikTok Shop, the company — which, notably, transitioned to new, primarily U.S. ownership back in January — has applied the same playbook to recent developments.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at TechCrunch via the links above and below.