Find out more about TikTok Now, TikTok’s answer to the BeReal trend.
TikTok is a social media app that is constantly updating and changing. TikTok Now was launched in September 2022, and has since become another popular feature of the platform that promotes authenticity and being in the moment.
If you use TikTok often, you may have noticed the lightning bolt icon on the bottom row for TikTok Now. However, not everyone is familiar with this feature as TikTok is mainly known as a video-sharing app.
TikTok Now is a feature where users can post a dual-camera photo or 10-second video at a certain time every day. The dual-camera element takes a photo or video with your front and back camera at the same time, so you can see yourself and whatever is in front of you in the post. It is an in-app feature in the United States and a separate app in other regions including parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The app will send a push notification to your phone letting you know it is “Time to Now” each day at the correct time. The idea is to post whatever you are doing at that time, but you are of course allowed to post late.
If this feature sounds familiar to you, that’s because it probably is. TikTok Now is almost exactly the same premise as popular social media app BeReal's main features, which grew immensely popular in 2022. Other social media apps, like Instagram and now TikTok, have worked quickly to create their own version of BeReal to capitalize on the popularity. TikTok’s main difference from BeReal is that you have the option to post a short video, whereas BeReal is just photo-based.
To post your first TikTok Now, follow these steps:
1. Tap the lightning bolt icon on the bottom row of your TikTok app or open the separate app, depending on your region.
2. Tap Post to View in the center.
3. Tap the blue circle to take your Now photo or hold it down to take a short video.
4. Press the checkmark button to post.
You can access your past Now posts by tapping Now memories on the top of your Now feed. No one else can see your past posts to Now. Users can only see the most recent round of Nows.
After you post your first Now, you will get a notification every day when it is time to post letting you know it is “Time to Now” with lightning bolt emoji.
Social media can often seem over-curated and superficial. You may find yourself comparing yourself to others on social media which can cause you to feel depressed or jealous.
Features like BeReal and TikTok Now show a more real and in-the-moment side to our friends on social media. Because people never know when the notification will come out to post to TikTok Now, there is no time to prepare with makeup or clothes and no editing.
Many people like that there is less pressure with TikTok Now to be perfect. It allows many people to enjoy social media without the negative effects of traditional social media platforms.
You can also choose to share your Now with just friends or with everyone on TikTok. This also helps relieve pressure when posting since you hide it from too many people seeing your post. You can do this by tapping Friends can view right before you post your Now. Confirm that only your friends will be able to see it.
Using TikTok Now is an easy and quick way to be more active on TikTok, especially when you don’t have much time or ideas for a whole video. You may find the benefits of this feature whether it's adding some authenticity to your social media or connecting more with your friends.
Get started and see what using TikTok Now can bring you!
Marissa is a lifelong writer with a growing love for social media. She studied journalism and psychology at American University where she learned to apply her writing skills to topics she is passionate about. She has also held positions in social media marketing where she has learned the in-and-outs of optimizing social media use.