TikTok has announced a major new addition to its platform,
that it is currently testing: the option to repost videos. With this option, users
can re-share their existing clips with followers in the Following and For You
feeds.
The new repost button is visible to some users on TikTok in the
sharing options. When this option is used, the reposted clip appears to the user’s
connections and people are able to see that the clip is re-shared, in the details
displayed.
The repost option is quite a great way to promote content on
the platform and allows sharing a clip with all followers at once, instead of
sending it to each follower individually.
While TikTok is using the feature to increase engagement, some
of the other social media platforms have taken into account the negative consequences
of the repost button. For instance, Twitter took down its straight retweets
option during the US elections last year, so as to slow down the spread of
misinformation. The platform later observed how this action worked in prompting
more mindful conversations across the platform. Similarly, WhatsApp also limited
the redistribution of messages to reduce the spread of vrial hoaxes and false information.
TikTok has never been targeted over spreading misinformation
through the content shared across its platform, but with the company testing
the repost option now, it may lead to some problems for the company after some
time.
