TikTok announced on Wednesday that it’s launching “Local Feeds,” an opt-in feature that uses precise GPS location data to create a feed of localized content, similar to the “Nearby Feeds” that launched in the UK and Europe in December.
This is the first new feature introduced for US users since TikTok officially came under new ownership last month. The new US version of the app got off to a bumpy start when it faced a major outage that TikTok says was due to a “cascading systems failure.”
The new localized feeds for US users will include “local content related to travel, events, restaurants and shopping, as well as posts from small businesses and local creators.” Local Feeds will be turned off by default and aren’t available to users who are under 18. TikTok USDS says the precise location tracking used for the feature is “only active when the app is in use.” Users who choose to turn on their Local Feed will see it as a tab in their home screen in the app.
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