Social network X is trying to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding ByteDance apps like TikTok and Lemon8 to launch a dedicated vertical video feed.
The company is adding a video tab to the app’s bottom bar to provide quick access to video content on the platform for users in the US.
“Today, users in the US are getting a great new home for video,” the company said in a statement on Sunday.
Users of TikTok and other ByteDance apps who have downloaded the apps can still use them in the U.S., but the apps don’t currently appear in major app stores, making it impossible to download new versions of the app. for updates or if you are a new user. This has caused a scramble among other social media app publishers to use new features or launch new apps to attract users. This could be a short-term arbitrage opportunity: Trump is expected to sign an Executive Order that overturns the ban imposed by the Supreme Court last week.
X users can already rotate short videos by tapping on a video in the timeline and scrolling up. This new tab for videos is a dedicated section just for these videos. It’s also not the first time the company has tried to create a new home for video.
The app’s reverse engineer has previously looked at a media tag for videos, but this is the first time X is making an official announcement.
The social network has been focusing on video experiences lately. Last year, it launched an independent TV app to showcase videos from various organizations and creators.
As TikTok struggles in the U.S., social networks are trying to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding ByteDance’s apps in the U.S. Meta announced a video editing app called Edits to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut, while X rival Bluesky launched a feed dedicated to vertical videos. .
