TikTok Unveils Voice Comments, Polls, and New Interactive Features to Boost User Engagement

TikTok is set to elevate its comments section by introducing thrilling new features. On Thursday, the social media platform announced the launch of voice comments, comment polls, photo carousel comments, and Live Photo comments.

These enhancements indicate TikTok’s strategy to integrate aspects from messaging apps to encourage increased user interaction. By adding voice messages, polls, and photo comments, the platform aspires to turn comment sections into dynamic areas for user engagement rather than just spaces for feedback on videos.

“Sound and music have always played a pivotal role in TikTok, sparking trends through songs and sharing audio clips humorously throughout the app,” TikTok stated in a blog post. “Now, we’re bringing that same energy to the comment section with Voice Comments, allowing users to record and listen to audio messages directly beneath any video.”

To post a voice comment, users simply tap the microphone icon within the comment box and record a message lasting up to a minute. After submission, anyone can click to listen to the voice comment.

A representative from TikTok told TechCrunch that voice comments must comply with the same Community Guidelines that govern other content on the platform. The company uses a combination of human review and automated detection tools, including speech-to-text technology, to identify and remove any content that violates its policies.

Voice comments will be rolled out globally next month for users aged 18 and older.

Additionally, creators can now add a poll to their comments on their own videos, a feature that was previously restricted but is now available worldwide.

TikTok notes that polls can be used for various purposes, such as choosing the next video topic, selecting an outfit, or deciding what to cook. Creators can provide up to five options for viewers to vote on and set a deadline for the poll. As votes come in, creators can monitor the results directly in the comments.

With photo carousel comments, users can now include up to nine images in a single comment, expanding from the previous limit of one. Additionally, Live Photo comments can now be uploaded, offering “a brief burst of motion” for others to see a quick glimpse before viewing the full image.

Live Photo comments are now available globally, while photo carousel comments will be introduced over the next month.