Monetising creators is a service many would argue social media companies owe them, whether through ad-revenue or through in-app subscriptions/donations (think YouTube’s ‘Join’ button or Twitter’s tip jar). TikTok has had a tipping solution for a minute now, though it’s been limited to in-app live streams. Now the feature is being tested directly in user profiles.
Get that TikTok doller
The new tip jar is currently only being tested by a handful of users, according to TechCrunch. Creators who have been picked for the test can apply to activate the feature if they a) have at least 100,000 followers and b) don’t have horrible reputations. So it’s not open to all.
Should TikTok accept their application, the tip jar will appear as a donation button that sits right on their user profiles, through which followers can donate to their social media idols.
The donation page also specifies that 100% of donations go directly towards the creators, meaning TikTok doesn’t get a cut. We’re not sure if this may change in the future should this test provide positive results, though given industry standards it wouldn’t exactly surprise us.
For now, it’s a good way to let creators, who the platform arguably owes thanks for some degree of its success, earn a living through their fans, and incentivises them to stay on rather than jump ship for a more lucrative platform.
A spokesperson told TechCrunch: “We’re always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience.”