One of my new favorite social media updates is TikTok’s latest Photo Mode. Earlier this month, along with other improved editing features, TikTok unveiled Photo Mode, a brand new photo tool that appears to compete with Instagram.

Photo Mode is a new way to experience TikTok, where users can create a slideshow that mimics Instagram’s carousel. Alongside this, the video-based social media app released enhanced editing abilities as well as longer captions.

In a blog post, TikTok announced: “For when you’d prefer to express yourself in formats other than video, we released Photo Mode, a new carousel format available on mobile for photo content that’s ideal for sharing high quality images on TikTok. Photo Mode allows you to share carousel posts of still images that automatically display one after another. You can add music to soundtrack the images, which viewers can swipe through at their own pace.”

In addition to adding a slideshow of images, users can also add music and TikTok sounds to their posts. Many have already utilized the format to create a new meme series that was popularized as a sequence on the app.

Posting content on your TikTok in Photo Mode is very similar to posting regular video content. Once you select the “+” icon at the bottom of the For You page, you can upload your photo gallery and choose the photos you want in your carousel alongside your tune of choice. Similar to the video posting feature, an editing page will appear and you can apply effects and music to your slideshow.

This new function has a lot in common with Instagram. TikTok appears to have imitated Instagram’s feature that lets producers post still picture carousels on their feed and stories. The recent practice of social media platforms replicating one another’s features is furthered by this new addition.

Some people might be surprised to see TikTok copying features from other applications — in the past it was the one inspiring new features across social media platforms, such as Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and most recently, Twitter’s new video features.

Additionally, the firm announced a change making it possible to have longer post descriptions of up to 2,200 characters per post. Compared to the previous character limit of 300, this is a significant increase.

Like YouTube, TikTok has a dislike button for comments, and if you’re wondering what else is new on the app, its AI features help create bizarre green screen backgrounds.

Photo via TikTok