TikTok Videos May Soon Require Payment to Watch

A new report states that TikTok, the Chinese video-sharing platform, is developing a feature that will allow creators to place their videos behind a paywall. The platform is said to be exploring new initiatives, including subscriptions of around $1 or another fee set by the creator, to increase its audience growth in the US.

The platform, which had over one billion monthly active users in Q4 2022, reportedly hopes to attract older users. TikTok's rival, Instagram, already allows creators to share content that is exclusive to subscribers. Additionally, TikTok is working on an improved Creator Fund 2.0 to encourage creators with over 100,000 followers to remain on the platform.

However, some TikTokers have criticised the platform's compensation structure, claiming that it restricts how much content creators can earn. With the new Creator Fund 2.0, TikTok plans to pay out more to creators by increasing the eligibility requirements to 100,000 followers and offering payouts for longer videos.

According to sources, the new fund may be introduced as early as March. While TikTok has experienced significant growth since its release in 2016, it has seen a slowdown in audience growth in the US, the world's biggest online advertising market.