TikTok has rolled out a new group chat feature, allowing users aged 16 and above to communicate with up to 32 people at once. This addition lets users share TikTok videos directly with friends and family without needing a separate messaging app.
To start a group chat, users can navigate to the Inbox, tap on Chat, select the friends they want to include, and hit “Start group chat.” However, only users who follow each other back can join a group chat, and those who have disabled messaging won’t receive invites.
For teens under 18, additional rules apply. They can only join a group chat if it includes at least one person who follows them back, and they must manually review and approve new members.
Despite disabling direct messages for users under 16 in 2020, TikTok previously allowed others to accept messages from any user. Along with group chats, TikTok has also introduced custom stickers, which users aged 18 and up can create and upload.