What do you get when you cross Instagram and Pinterest? TikTok Notes, of course
While Meta launched Threads in mid-2023 as a competitor to X (formerly known as Twitter), TikTok has been working behind the scenes to launch its competitor to Instagram: TikTok Notes. The new app was launched in Australia and Canada on Thursday 18 April, and is dedicated to text and still image sharing.
With an interface reminiscent of Pinterest’s two-column layout, and similar to TikTok’s lesser-known e-commerce app Lemon8, Notes is set to compete with Instagram. Just like Instagram’s Threads, you don’t need to create a new account if you already have a TikTok account.
If you are thinking, “Oh great, another platform my business will have to be on,” then to you I say: hold up.
What do we know about TikTok Notes so far?
Notes allows users to post up to 34 images in a single post, with a headline as well as a caption to the limit of 4,000 characters. A headline and caption are indicators that TikTok SEO will play a role in how content is found. At this stage, not much is known about the Notes algorithm and how it will serve content to users.
Instagram still has more active users (2 billion vs TikTok’s 1.5 billion), however, TikTok’s easily consumable content (i.e. videos) may be the reason users spend twice as long on TikTok than Instagram (34 hours per month vs just under 16 hours per month).
With TikTok downloads limited in some countries and across some devices, content creators may be forced to adopt a cross-platform strategy for still images (similar to the tandem use of TikTok and Reels now) to ensure their content is seen by their audiences.
It’s also unclear right now as to how and when advertising will be supported on the app.
Will I have to use TikTok Notes for my business?
If you’re flat-out managing Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and any other myriad of social media apps relevant to your business, I suggest you wait until we find out more about the app. User adoption and experience, advertising costs, algorithm and SEO, uptake, and feedback from content creators will determine the success of this app.
So, in short, no, you don’t have to use TikTok Notes for your business. Not unless you have an incredibly successful TikTok account already. And not unless your target market uses the app. Market adoption and data on usage can inform you as to whether you need to add TikTok Notes to your list of social media channels.
Meta integrates controversial new AI tool
The launch of TikTok Notes wasn’t the only change in social media last week. Meta has integrated a new AI tool across its apps (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp). Pitched to rival OpenAI and Copilot, Llama 3 has already sparked privacy and bias concerns.
Integrated into the search bar of Meta’s apps and into the main Facebook feed, Meta insists Llama 3 is the “best in class” of free models available right now. Reducing the need to leave the app, Meta AI can respond to prompts and messages, and generate images.
However, things have already gone awry.
Almost immediately, Llama 3 has caused issues, including inserting itself into a Facebook Group claiming it’s the parent of a gifted child with a disability, or posing as a seller on a Buy Nothing Group in the US.
There are concerns that Meta’s AI tool may help perpetuate misinformation about politics, social issues and current events. Already, Meta AI has been criticised for how it selects the portrayal of race and gender in generative images. Since the launch, Meta has been working on improvements, however, this has done little to alleviate concerns over whether Meta AI is making it simpler to spread misinformation.
Proceed with caution
As will all AI tools, we encourage you to approach with caution:
- Do your own research to test assumptions and fact-check results.
- Don’t include personal, protected, or sensitive information in your prompt.
- Proof results and change the text to align with your organisation’s tone of voice – beware of the copy paste.
- Stay informed on the limitations, risks, privacy policy, latest advancements and capabilities of AI.
It looks like Llama 3 is here to stay – as you can’t turn it off.
We’ve employed our time well at Threesides testing Meta AI Search:
And in case you were wondering, yes, we did enjoy the cat videos.