TikTok's latest feature is group chats, allowing users to share and discuss content in smaller private groups. — Photo: Hannes P Albert/dpa
BERLIN: TikTok has introduced a group chat feature, allowing you to share videos with up to 31 people - so long as everyone is older than 16.
Like the direct messaging feature, Group Chat is not avavilable to teens between 13 and 15. To join a group chat, you need to be added by a friend – a person you follow who also follows you.
Further safety measures have been implemented for users aged 16 and 17 who can only join a group chat if it includes at least one mutual friend. If they are sent a link inviting them to join a group conversation, they need to proactively accept it.
When a teenager creates a group chat, they are required "to review and approve new joiners," according to TikTok.
Users are able to mute and block others within a group chat as well as report messages or the entire chat if they think the content violates the platform's Community Guidelines.
Each user can only create a limited number of group chats and the number of messages that can be forwarded has been limited as well.
In another new feature, TikTok has also introduced stickers for direct messages. Users can either create and upload their own stickers for the whole community to use or choose from a trove of existing stickers. You need to be aged 18 or older to upload your own sticker sets. – dpa
