TikTok is experimenting with disappearing stories

The new feature, currently being tested in countries outside the US, will allow content to vanish after 24 hours

TikTok is trialling Stories, which will last for 24 hours, but the feature may not become permanent. Reuters

Popular video app TikTok is experimenting with a new feature that will show user content for 24 hours, before the video disappears.

Simply called “TikTok Stories”, it’s currently being tested in various countries outside the US, but may not become a permanent feature.

“We’re always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience,” a spokesperson for the company told Variety. “Currently we’re experimenting with ways to give creators additional formats to bring their creative ideas to life for the TikTok community.”

Stories were first used by Snapchat, and were later copied by rivals Instagram and Facebook. YouTube is also currently experimenting with a similar feature called Shorts.

Last month, Tiktok announced it would allow users to post longer videos of up to three minutes, moving past its previous 60-second limit.

In a blog post announcing the move, TikTok product manager Drew Kirchhoff said the decision was based on feedback the company has received from users.

“We often hear from creators that they'd love just a little more time to bring their cooking demos, elaborate beauty tutorials, educational lesson plans and comedic sketches to life with TikTok’s creative tools,” he said. “With longer videos, creators will have the canvas to create new or expanded types of content on TikTok, with the flexibility of a bit more space.”

TikTok initially allowed users to record and post 15-second clips, which it extended to a minute.

Owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance, TikTok was the most-downloaded app in 2020, according to appfigures, and has been downloaded more than two billion times.