By Chris Skeldon 
There's competition on the horizon on Instagram. After becoming an internet success story, TikTok appears to be preparing a new app specifically dedicated to photo sharing.
TikTok and TikTok Photos will be integrated
Information about the new network was found through the Indian page com.TheSpAndroid In lines of code from the latest version of the video platform's Android app. When version 33.8.4 of the app was unpacked, the person responsible for the page found data about a new platform, “TikTok Photos.”
In the lines of code above, we see references to TikTok Photos, with references to the new feature being a platform where users can share their photos and “reach other people with similar interests who want to post photos.”
Currently, TikTok already allows photo sharing on the platform. Images are arranged in a gallery format and can be viewed between videos. However, TikTok is primarily a video network, and having something dedicated to photos could provide more functionality.
Furthermore, the lines of code also indicate that the native app should include an option to allow users to sync their photo posts on TikTok Photos with their native TikTok profile.
Without specific information about the launch date, the icon only states that TikTok Photos is “launching soon” and features a few variations of the TikTok Photos icon.
Expanding competition
Following the incredible success of TikTok, platforms like YouTube and Instagram have created sections with similar suggestions. Shorts and Reels, respectively, are also short videos that can be watched, generally, vertically, providing a very similar experience to TikTok.
However, ByteDance's video network remains ahead of the curve with its original proposal and is already competing with competing proposals. In January, the beta version of TikTok began allowing videos up to 30 minutes in length.
While this is still not comparable to videos posted on YouTube, it could make a difference for many users who previously used TikTok for short videos and noted that their followers could watch the full video on YouTube. Now, they will be able to stay on TikTok if they wish.
The arrival of TikTok Photos may lead influencers and content creators in general to focus their efforts more solely on ByteDance Networks.