TikTok may very well be eyeing a brand new approach to tackle Instagram, with a brand new “TikTok Pictures” app reportedly in growth.

As reported by The SpAndroid, within the back-end code of the present TikTok app, some new references to “TikTok Pictures” have appeared inside the code strings.

The code seems to counsel that TikTok customers will quickly be prompted to share their nonetheless photos to the brand new app, with the intention to “attain like-minded individuals who get pleasure from picture posts”.

There’s additionally, apparently, a brand new welcome message for the app:

“TikTok Pictures will probably be launched quickly, we hope that can assist you acquire new audiences within the new app. If the change is on, we’ll sync your public pictures to the brand new app, whether or not you shut the pop-up or not.”

The addition of a separate TikTok Pictures app will not be overly shocking, provided that TikTok has already added a “picture mode” for nonetheless photos in-stream, and has been encouraging customers to put up extra pictures of late.

It additionally is sensible within the context of Chinese language app traits.

China’s personal model of Instagram is the Tencent-backed Xiaohongshu, which has seen massive success of late after incorporating eCommerce options.

Xiaohongshu generated greater than $500 million in web revenue in 2023, far exceeding expectations for the platform, and now has greater than 200 million lively customers within the nation.

Douyin, the Chinese language model of TikTok, has additionally been emphasizing nonetheless picture posts, although it seemingly hasn’t considered this as a key precedence. However perhaps, now that Xiaohongshu is making massive cash, and increasing on its eCommerce potential, that’s now prompted TikTok proprietor ByteDance to make an even bigger push on this factor.

So will it work?

Nicely, it’s onerous to see how an Instagram equal will compete in markets the place IG itself exists however perhaps, as an growth of TikTok’s in-stream procuring push, there may very well be one thing there, which may make it a extra viable mission.

And ByteDance has proven a willingness to experiment with new apps, together with Lemon8, which additionally seems very very like Instagram, although with a transparent eCommerce tilt.

Lemon8 drew vital curiosity shortly after its U.S. launch early final 12 months, however has seemingly misplaced momentum of late.  

Possibly, a TikTok-branded picture app would fare higher, and facilitate extra alternatives in Western markets.

And perhaps, provided that TikTok is going through a ban as soon as once more within the U.S., it needs to get it out now, with the intention to check the waters earlier than a ban is enacted.

There’s not a heap to go on as but, however the indicators do counsel that ByteDance may very well be trying to improve its eCommerce attraction by way of an image-based app.