TikTok enhances comment section interactivity with various new features

TikTok is making the comment section on its platform more interactive by adding various new features, including voice comments, polls, and photo comments.

According to a TechCrunch report on Thursday (3/9), the Voice Comments, Polling, Live Photos Comments, and Photo Carousel Comments features are expected to turn TikTok’s comment section into a space where users can linger and interact with one another, rather than just a place to leave responses under videos.

“Sound and music have shaped TikTok since its initial launch, turning songs into trends and audio snippets into jokes shared across the application,” TikTok wrote in its latest blog post.

“Now, we are bringing that same energy to the comment section with Voice Comments, a new way to share and listen to voice messages directly under any video,” said TikTok.

Voice Comments can be used by tapping the microphone icon in the comment section to record a message lasting up to one minute. Once the voice recording is uploaded, other users can tap to listen to it.

A TikTok spokesperson stated that voice comments are subject to the same Community Guidelines as other content on the platform. The company uses a combination of human power and automated detection tools, including speech-to-text transcription, to identify and remove content that violates their policies.

Voice Comments will be available globally next month for users of the platform aged 18 and above.

The polling feature can be used to help creators choose content ideas, outfits to wear, or food to cook. TikTok content creators can present five options to other users in the comment section and use the poll results as input for their next content creation.

Additionally, TikTok users can utilise the Photo Carousel Comments feature to add up to nine photos in a single comment. Previously, only one photo could be uploaded in the comment section.

Platform users can also upload Live Photos Comments, which can provide a brief preview before users view the full image. Live Photo Comments are now available globally, while Photo Carousel Comments are set to launch globally in the coming month.