TikTok’s Future in the US Hangs in the Balance as Supreme Court Decision Looms
In a significant development earlier today, the United States Supreme Court confirmed a legal ruling that could lead to the prohibition of TikTok within the country, unless the platform finds a buyer by January 19. With this deadline rapidly approaching and no acquisition negotiations evident, TikTok has announced plans to completely deactivate its service for American users this Sunday. However, it’s noteworthy that current legislation only mandates Google and Apple to remove TikTok from their respective app stores, not an outright shutdown of its services.
Responses from Competitors: Instagram Steps Up Its Game
The potential exit of TikTok from the US market has undoubtedly generated excitement among its rivals. In light of this, Instagram is seizing the moment by launching two innovative features aimed at enhancing its Reels functionality—their own version inspired by TikTok.
New Features Designed for Engagement
Among these new updates is a feature that highlights reels your friends have engaged with through likes or comments displayed prominently in the corner of the Reels tab. Furthermore, there’s now a reply bar which enables users to initiate discussions about content they find enjoyable—Instagram describes it as an opportunity for creators’ reels to reach even more viewers beyond their immediate follower base.
This interactive approach allows users to see who among their social circle has interacted with specific reels. For instance, if one of your friends reacts positively to a reel by liking it, you can easily respond directly to their engagement.
A Gradual Rollout Across Regions
No surprise here: these updated features are initially being introduced in the United States before eventually expanding into other regions over time.
Source:
