TikTok to allow creators to charge monthly subscriptions

Certain accounts will be invited to take money for live streams

TikTok is to allow some users to charge a subscription for live streams. Reuters

TikTok on Monday said it will allow some popular accounts at the video-snippet channel to charge subscriptions for live streams.

Similar moneymaking tools have been added to rivals such as Instagram and Facebook as the social media platforms compete for online personalities who attract audiences.

“LIVE Subscription is an extension of our efforts to build diversified creator monetisation opportunities that suit a range of creator needs,” TikTok said in a blog post.

TikTok said the subscription feature introduced this week will only be available to creators by invitation for now, but will be expanded globally in coming months.

The company did not disclose details of pricing.

Creators will be able to switch into a chat mode exclusive to subscribers, “enhancing an even more personal connection between creator and viewer”, the company said.

To access the LIVE Subscription feature, creators will need to be at least 18 years old, while users will have to be at least the same age to subscribe, TikTok said in the post.

Subscriber perks will include digital badges and, in some cases, the ability to control camera angles during streamed sessions, according to video clips posts by TikTok creators invited to take part.

TikTok this month announced an ad revenue-sharing programme with the social media platform's most prominent creators, moving closer to a model used by its competitors.

The short-video format app has become wildly popular in recent years with more than a billion active users globally, but has been criticised for not providing a way for creators to effectively monetise content.

Under a TikTok Pulse programme to be rolled out in the US next month, companies can place their ads next to user content in specific categories and creators will get a cut.

“We will begin exploring our first advertising revenue share programme with creators, public figures and media publishers,” the company, a subsidiary of Chinese tech firm ByteDance, said in a statement.

Other major social networks that focus on video, such as YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, have already started revenue-sharing systems.

The 10 most-followed Twitter users — in pictures

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  Former US president Barack Obama has the most-followed account on Twitter and is a prolific tweeter. AFP

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  Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Bieber has the second most-followed account but has only posted once in 2022. He's prolific on Instagram, however. AFP

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  US singer-songwriter Katy Perry comes in third and is active on Twitter, but not particularly prolific. AFP

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  Rihanna has the fourth most-followed account, but has posted less than 10 times per month in 2022 so far. Getty Images via AFP

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  Cristiano Ronaldo, who has the fifth most-followed account, keeps us updated several times a month, but is far more active on Instagram. AFP

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  Taylor Swift, who has had a love-hate relationship with social media, has the sixth most-followed Twitter account and yet rarely uses the platform. Getty Images via AFP

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  Lady Gaga has the seventh most-followed Twitter account and is fairly active, but uses Instagram a bit more. Getty Images via AFP

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  Elon Musk, who has the eighth most-followed Twitter account, is the biggest individual shareholder in the parent company and its newest board member, and is among the most prolific users. AFP

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  India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi uses Twitter regularly, with several posts per day, and has the ninth most-followed account. AFP

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  US comedienne Ellen DeGeneres keeps her 77.5 million followers updated several times per day. AFP