musical.ly and TikTok Unite to Debut New Worldwide Short Form Video Platform

musical.ly and TikTok have announced that they will unite to create a new global app. The newly upgraded platform, which keeps the TikTok name, creates a unified user experience, debuts a new logo and user interface, and offers greater capabilities for video creation.

The upgraded app will offer users an effortless, compelling, and personalized viewing experience. Existing creators' accounts, content and fan base will move automatically to the new TikTok app, where creators will keep all of their preexisting content and fans while enjoying the opportunity to reach a bigger and more diverse global audience than ever before.

TikTok incorporates the most popular elements of both apps with a feed that highlights the users' community, in addition to a "For You" feed that uniquely serves a curation of personalized video recommendations based on viewing preferences. The app will also introduce new upcoming features including:

A "reaction" feature that allows user to react friends' videos directly from the phone

Enhanced creative tools like interactive gesture filters unlock features such as funhouse mirror camera effects;

VR-type filters that can be activated just by blinking

Green screen-like background effects.

Alex Zhu, co-founder of musical.ly and Senior Vice President of TikTok said:"musical.ly recently reached a new milestone of 100 million monthly active users and we are excited to enter into a new chapter. TikTok, the sound of a ticking clock, represents the short nature of the video platform. We want to capture the world's creativity and knowledge under this new name and remind everyone to treasure every precious life moment. Combining musical.ly and

TikTok is a natural fit given the shared mission of both experiences – to create a community where everyone can be a creator.

TikTok is committed to creating a positive environment for users and creators. In addition to an enhanced user experience, TikTok is launching a new safety center dedicated to providing tips and resources to help users navigate a range of topics and build an online experience that feels safe and welcoming. The upgraded app also offers a new digital wellbeing feature with a screen time management alert when users have been on TikTok for more than two hours.

TikTok is available now to new users everywhere via the App Store or Google Play stories. Existing musical.ly users will automatically upgrade to TikTok when they update the current app.

The new platform enables users to engage with an expanded network available in app stores throughout North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia.