What is TikTok Now?
TikTok Now is a new TikTok feature similar to Be Real that lets users share quick candid moments. Users get notified at a random time each day to take and share a 10-second video or photo.
According to the TikTok Newsroom, “TikTok Now invites you and your friends to capture what you’re doing in the moment using your device’s front and back camera.”1 The feature is designed to create more understanding between users by giving them a “snapshot” into what others are up to throughout the day.
TikTok first gained popularity as a platform for creating and sharing short video clips set to music. TikTok Now represents an evolution of the app to incorporate more authentic, unedited content. The feature allows users to present daily life in its raw, unfiltered form.
Do You Have to Post TikTok Nows?
Posting TikTok Nows is completely optional. You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. When TikTok Now first launched, some users were confused and thought it was mandatory to post TikTok Nows when notified. However, TikTok has confirmed that posting TikTok Nows is not required and is opt-in only (TikTok Now | Creator Portal).
If you don’t want to post TikTok Nows, you can simply ignore the notifications or turn off TikTok Now in your settings. TikTok won’t penalize your account in any way for choosing not to post TikTok Nows. The feature is designed to be a fun, optional way to share quick moments with friends, but there is no expectation or requirement to participate.
In summary, posting TikTok Nows is completely voluntary. You decide if and when to participate. TikTok understands that not all users will want to use the TikTok Now feature, so they’ve made it optional. You won’t get in trouble for ignoring TikTok Now notifications.
Who Can See Your TikTok Now?
By default, TikTok Nows are only visible to your followers, but you can adjust the privacy settings. In your TikTok account settings, go to “Privacy” and then “TikTok Now” to manage your preferences.
The options are:
- Followers Only – This is the default setting. Only people who follow you can see your TikTok Now posts.
- Friends Only – Narrows it further so only friends who follow you can see your TikTok Nows.
- No One – Selecting this will make all your TikTok Now posts completely private.
So in summary, your TikTok Now posts are not automatically public for all TikTok users to see. You have control over the audience. The default is followers only, but you can restrict it further or make your TikTok Nows completely private.
For more details, refer to TikTok’s guide on account privacy settings.
How Often Do You Get a TikTok Now Notification?
You get notified to take and share a TikTok Now once per day at a random time. TikTok sends you a push notification prompting you to capture a 10-second video showing what you’re up to at that moment. You have 3 minutes to record and post your TikTok Now after receiving the notification before the opportunity expires.
The daily TikTok Now notification is sent at a random time each day. You cannot choose or schedule when you’ll get the prompt to post a TikTok Now. The feature is designed to give an authentic, spontaneous look into your day-to-day life.
Receiving just one TikTok Now notification per day prevents the feature from becoming intrusive or overwhelming. It’s meant to be a fun, casual way to share real, unfiltered moments – not a constant demand for content. With a single daily prompt, TikTok Now is a low-pressure way to give followers a glimpse at your daily activities and surroundings.
What Happens If You Miss a TikTok Now?
If you miss the window to take and share your TikTok Now for the day, you simply have to wait until the next notification. TikTok Nows are only available for a limited time after you receive the prompt. According to TikTok, if you don’t post within 3 minutes of getting the notification, you’ll have to wait until the next day.
Some users have reported frustration with missing their chance to post TikTok Now and having to wait a full day for the next opportunity. However, the ephemeral nature of TikTok Now is by design – it’s meant to encourage authentic, spontaneous content creation. If TikTok Nows remained available indefinitely, it could defeat the purpose of sharing authentic moments.
Overall, if you happen to miss out on posting your daily TikTok Now, don’t sweat it too much. Just make sure to take advantage the next time you get a notification!
Do You Get Notified When Your Friends Post TikTok Nows?
You do not get notifications when your friends post TikTok Nows, you have to check their profiles to see them. When TikTok first launched TikTok Now, some users reported getting notifications when their friends posted (https://www.reddit.com/r/Tiktokhelp/comments/xkk8jg/how_to_turn_off_now_tab_after_update/). However, TikTok has since removed this feature.
According to TikTok’s Help Center article on notifications (https://support.tiktok.com/en/using-tiktok/messaging-and-notifications/notifications), you only get notifications for direct messages, comments, likes, and other interactions on your own content. There is no mention of getting notifications for friends’ TikTok Now posts.
The only way to see friends’ TikTok Now posts is to actively check their profiles. Some users wish TikTok would add notifications for friends’ Nows, but for now, the only way to stay updated is to remember to regularly view friends’ profiles.
How Long Do TikTok Nows Stay Up?
TikTok Nows only remain visible for 24 hours after they are posted. According to this TikTok video, once a TikTok Now is posted, it will disappear after 24 hours. After that 24 hour period, the TikTok Now will no longer be viewable to others on TikTok.
This ephemeral format encourages users to post more authentic, spur-of-the-moment content, without worrying about it staying on their profile permanently. It allows users to share temporary moments that represent what they are doing in real-time.
While TikTok Nows disappear after a day, users can still view old TikTok Nows they have posted by going to their profile and tapping on “Story Archive”. So the TikTok Nows do not completely disappear forever, but they are no longer publicly visible to others after 24 hours.
Can You Download TikTok Nows?
Currently there is no way to save or download other users’ TikTok Nows within the app. The TikTok Now experience is meant to be ephemeral, with posts only available for 24 hours. According to TikTok’s website https://www.tiktok.com/how-to/download-tiktok-now, “TikTok Now is all about sharing the moment – you can’t download or react to TikTok Now posts.”
You are only able to save your own TikTok Now posts to your camera roll for 24 hours after posting. To do this, tap the three dots in the bottom right corner of your own TikTok Now and select “Save to Camera.” This will save that specific TikTok Now to your camera roll. However, there is no way to download or save another user’s TikTok Now.
The ephemeral and in-the-moment nature of TikTok Now is central to the experience. While you can’t keep others’ posts, you can always create your own TikTok Now to capture any moment you want to save.
Is TikTok Now Available for Everyone?
TikTok Now is slowly rolling out and may not be available for all users yet. It is currently only available on iOS devices running iOS 13 or later. According to TikTok’s announcement, TikTok Now will be rolling out to more regions over the coming months.
As of September 2022, TikTok Now is only available in the United States and Canada. Some iOS users in these countries may see an option to try TikTok Now in their app, while others may not. TikTok has not provided details on how they are selecting users to gain access to the TikTok Now feature.
TikTok Now is not yet available on Android devices. TikTok has stated that an Android version is in the works and expected to launch in the coming months. Users outside of the US and Canada will have to wait for TikTok Now to become available in their country.
So in summary – TikTok Now is slowly rolling out, starting first on iOS in the US and Canada. Not all users in these countries have access yet. Global and Android availability is still to come. Check the TikTok app regularly to see if you gain access to TikTok Now.
In Conclusion
TikTok Now is an optional, ephemeral content feature that allows users to share brief video updates throughout their day. You do not need to post TikTok Nows in order to see others’ Nows. Only people you follow and who follow you back can view your TikTok Nows. You will get notified when your friends post Nows if you have notifications enabled. TikTok Nows are available for a 24-hour period before expiring. You cannot download other users’ Nows, but you can save your own to your camera roll. TikTok is rolling out Now to users gradually, so it may not be available to everyone yet. In summary, TikTok Now provides a way to share ephemeral video snapshots, but it is not mandatory to use in order to enjoy the TikTok app.
