TikTok Now Lets Creators Charge Monthly Subscription Fees
According to TikTok, this feature will be available to creators by invitation for now, but will be expanded globally in the coming months.
Chinese short-form video hosting service TikTok has quickly picked up popularity in many countries, including the Philippines. While initially known as home to dance trends and videos, it has quickly expanded to include cooking, food, travel, gaming, and even short-form funny videos. In fact, many influencers and streamers have become popular due to this app.
While TikTok has more than a billion users globally, it too has been criticized for not providing a way for creators to effectively monetize content. However, many rising stars have found ways to monetize through TikTok—mainly through paid partnerships, sponsorships, and collaborations with brands.
How it Works
Although money-making tools like this have been added to rivals like Instagram and Facebook, TikTok announced that it will let some popular accounts charge subscriptions for their livestreams in what they call LIVE Subscription. Very timely too, as social media platforms are all competing for online personalities that attract audiences to their respective apps.
“LIVE Subscription is an extension of our efforts to build diversified creator monetization opportunities that suit a range of creator needs,” TikTok explained in a blog post. The company did not disclose pricing though.
This new subscription feature will be introduced this week, however, it will only be available to creators by invitation for now. Not to worry though—it will be expanded globally in the coming months. Through this feature, creators will be able to also switch into a chat mode—exclusive to subscribers— which “enhances an even more personal connection between creator and viewer,” according to the company.
According to TikTok, in order to access the LIVE Subscription feature, creators need to be at least 18 years old, while users will have to be at least the same age to subscribe. Moreover, subscriber perks include digital badges and, in some cases, the ability to control camera angles during streamed sessions, which video clips by TikTok creators invited to take part revealed.
Ad Revenue-sharing, Explained
Early this month, TikTok announced an ad revenue-sharing program with its most prominent creators, thus moving closer to a model already used by its competitors. Under a TikTok Pulse program—to be rolled out in the United States next month—companies can place their ads next to user content in specific categories, where creators will get a cut from this.
“We will begin exploring our first advertising revenue share program with creators, public figures and media publishers,” the company, a subsidiary of Chinese tech firm ByteDance, explained in a statement.
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