TikTok is testing a new feature that will allow users to find videos they’ve previously watched, wanted to watch again, but can’t find them among the millions shared.
The Watch History feature seems to be just a beta test not available to all users at the moment and was spotted by Twitter users Hammod Oh.
The link to view previously watched videos reportedly appears in the Content and Activity section of the settings page.
This is a long-requested feature, as users often complain that they spend time browsing video by video on the For You page to find “the one” they’re interested in, but the first time forgot to save.
The new Watch History page includes a week’s worth of previously watched videos, but like YouTube watch history, you can turn it off at any time.
TikTok is testing a new feature that will allow users to find videos they’ve previously watched, wanted to watch again, but can’t find them among the millions shared
The link to view previously watched videos reportedly appears in the Content and Activity section of the settings page
This is a long-requested feature, as users often complain that they spend time browsing video by video on the For You page to find “the one” they’re interested in, but the first time forgot to save
There are no specific details on how watch history will work or what the site will look like as it is only available to a limited number of users.
There are currently a limited number of ways to track videos that you may want to watch again, including liking a video – as these will appear on your profile.
It’s also possible to filter search results by videos you’ve already watched, but this won’t work on an empty search, so you’ll need to know a word or tag used by the creator of the video you’re trying to find.
TikTok told TechCrunch it couldn’t say more about the feature, adding, “We’re always thinking of new ways to add value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience.”
The Watch History feature appears to be just a beta test at the moment, not available to all users, and was spotted by Twitter user Hammod Oh
HOW TIK TOK BECAME THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATION ONLINE
TikTok is a Chinese social media app that allows users to live stream, create short videos and music videos and gifs with a variety of features.
TikTok’s slogan is “Make every second count”.
It is known as Douyin in China, where it was launched in 2016 and made more widely available around the world in 2017.
Douyin is still the version of the app used in China, which can be downloaded separately on TikTok.
The app has been merged with popular music video lip syncing app Musical.ly, also headquartered in China.
Most kids use the app to lip-sync to chart hits.
It provides users with a variety of colorful modification and editing tools including overlaid music, sound, animated stickers, filters, and augmented reality (AR) to create short videos.
Until this is available, the only reliable way to find previous videos is to go into settings, download all your data and go to the video browser history section.
TikTok has rolled out a number of new features over the past few months, including Stories and longer videos.
Stories first launched as a test in some countries in August 2021 and eventually made available globally earlier this month.
It borrows heavily from similar features used by Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram, allowing users to post short-term content attached to a profile picture.
It lasts about 24 hours before automatically deleting itself – accessible by clicking on a TikTok user’s profile photo.
Earlier this month, the Chinese-owned company also announced the launch of 10-minute videos – significantly longer than the previous 3-minute maximum.
This is further evidence that TikTok is making inroads into a market long dominated by YouTube, which itself recently launched TikTok-style shorts.
The new 10-minute limit has received mixed reviews on Twitter, with many saying they would refuse to watch a 10-minute video on the platform.
One user tweeted: “I block anyone who does a 10 minute tiktok. I can no longer pay attention to the 3 minutes.’
Another added: “Just create a YouTube channel. Why do we need 10 minute videos on Tiktok?
And one joked: “If someone sends me a 10 minute tiktok, that person is out of my life forever.”
SCIENTISTS WARN THAT NEARLY 50 HARMFUL EFFECTS ARE LINKED TO THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SUCH AS FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM
A 2021 study shows nearly 50 harmful effects are associated with social media use — and they don’t just affect mental health.
Academics from the University of Technology Sydney report 46 harmful effects related to the use of websites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For the study, the team reviewed more than 50 research articles published between 2003 and 2018.
In 2003, social media was still in its infancy and Facebook was only a year away from being established. One of the early social networks, MySpace, was founded in 2003.
Among the 46 harmful effects of social media were invasion of privacy, deception, panic, conflict with others, and an increased willingness to take financial risks.
Overall, the problems of social media range from physical and mental health problems to negative effects on professional and school performance to security and privacy problems, according to the scientists.
Read the 46 harmful effects of social media here