TikTok is testing a new Q&A feature that allows creators to directly answer fan questions through text or video. The trial is currently available only to select users who've opted in, according to TechCrunch.
Social media consultant Matt Navarra first spotted the function on Tuesday, via TikToker Sam Schmir; a series of tweeted screenshots highlight the Q&A icon (a square speech box around a question mark) and how it appears to followers and creators.
"Creators can add [a] Q&A button to [their] profile allowing followers to leave questions which they can answer via video replies or in a livestream," Navarra tweeted. TikTok did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.
Question-and-answer sessions are increasingly popular across social media, particularly on Instagram Stories and Snapchat-integrated YOLO. TikTok Q&As, meanwhile, are often reserved for the comments section; creators may then choose to respond in a new video or with a simple written reply.
Watching how folks carry out discussions on the site led TikTok developers to their latest feature. Similar to the existing "reply to comments with video" option, creators can now directly respond to audience questions, TechCrunch explained. There is no limit to the number of queries one user can receive, though they are obviously not obligated to answer any.
Simply tap the Q&A button in a video's comment field, or, where available, submit questions directly through the Q&A link on your favorite user's profile page. This way, creators can view all of their fans' inquiries in one place. The new feature is presently open only to public Creator Accounts with more than 10,000 followers; users must opt in to the feature from the app's settings.