TikTok Introduces ‘Notes’: A New Photo-Sharing Application Currently Under Trial in Several Nations

TikTok has quietly launched a direct competitor to Instagram on Google Play Store and Apple App Store in other countries. The company’s communications team released a statement on X, talking about its new app TikTok Notes. The post reads, “We are in the early stages of experimenting with TikTok Notes with a dedicated space for photo and text content. Starting today, TikTok Notes is available for download and limited testing in Australia and Canada.” They showed some official images of the mobile app in another post on the thread. The purpose of these image files is to give some insight into the app’s design and features, especially for those who don’t have access to it.

Another post on the thread also suggests that TikTok’s new app will be a photo-based social media platform. It reads, “We hope the TikTok community continues to use TikTok Notes to share their moments through photo posts. Documenting adventures, expressing creativity, or simply sharing snapshots of a day, the TikTok Notes experience is designed for people who want to share and engage through photo content”.

The new TikTok Notes app requires users to have an existing TikTok account. The company has also indicated that their current or future posts will also appear on the new Notes app unless users choose to opt out. The images shared by TikTok’s communications team feature a special headline column for images, above the caption section. This Headline tab is not natively offered on Instagram. The homepage can also be viewed divided into two sections. A separate page is provided to view the posts of people you follow. The app also features a ‘For You’ page that looks like Pinterest’s homepage but has a smaller two-column grid. Apart from these tweaks, the app bears striking similarities to Instagram. However, due to its old-school nature, the app doesn’t seem to have a ‘Stories’ feature unlike its Meta counterpart.

TikTok announced their new photo-sharing app earlier this month. A notification was sent to users announcing the launch of the app. During the unveiling, not much information was given other than his name. There is also no explanation as to why the company chose Australia and Canada as the first countries to receive this new app. No statement has been made as to whether the TikTok Notes app will launch in the United States or other regions of the world.