What is the Now section on TikTok?
The Now section is a new feature that TikTok launched in November 2022 as a rival to the popular BeReal app. It encourages users to share authentic, unedited photos or videos of what they are doing at random times throughout the day.
TikTok describes Now as “a daily photo and video experience to share your most authentic moments with the people who matter the most.” At random times once per day between 6AM and 10PM, users will get a notification to capture and share a 10-second video or static photo to show what they are up to in the moment.
The content shared to a user’s Now section appears more naturally candid, much like the content in BeReal. It provides followers a behind-the-scenes look at a TikToker’s daily life. The Now section displays in a separate feed from the main “For You” page.
Why do some users want to remove the Now section?
The Now section can be distracting or show unwanted content for some TikTok users. Here are some key reasons why users may want to remove or disable the Now section:
- The Now section shows random content that may not match a user’s interests. Since it is personalized less than the For You feed, some users find it irrelevant or distracting.
- Now prompts users to post reaction videos, which not all users want to participate in. Users who don’t enjoy creating reaction content may want to remove this feature.
- The Now section can feel invasive or like an obligation, especially with daily photo prompts. Users who want more control over their TikTok experience may prefer removing this feature.
- Seeing others’ candid reaction videos in Now can be tedious or uninteresting after the novelty wears off. The content doesn’t necessarily align with a given user’s preferences.
- Having another section in TikTok can clutter the interface. Users who want a more streamlined experience may disable Now to reduce distractions.
In summary, the main motivations include avoiding irrelevant content, increased distractions, feeling obligated to post, loss of novelty, and desire for a cleaner interface. TikTok users concerned about any of these factors may decide to remove Now from their app experience.
How to disable the Now section on TikTok
If you want to completely remove the Now section from your TikTok feed, you can disable it in your settings. Here are the steps to turn off the Now section on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Content & Activity.
- Under the “Discovered” section, toggle off “Now”.
- You will get a confirmation popup, tap “Turn Off”.
Once you have turned off the Now setting, the section will no longer appear on your For You feed. You can always go back and re-enable it if you change your mind. Disabling Now is the only way to completely remove it from your TikTok experience (https://www.kapwing.com/resources/how-to-delete-a-tiktok-now-posts/).
Turning off personalized recommendations
One way to get rid of the Now section is to turn off TikTok’s personalized recommendations. This will remove the algorithmic suggestions in the Now section and For You page based on your interests and activity. To turn this off:
1. Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu.
3. Select “Settings and privacy.”
4. Tap “Recommendations” and toggle off “Personalized recommendations.”
This will stop TikTok from tailoring the Now section and For You page based on your preferences. However, you will still see generally popular and trending content. Disabling suggested posts can also remove unwanted content like certain songs, dances, challenges etc. that TikTok’s algorithm has associated with your interests.
Source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-privacy-settings/suggested-accounts
Using screen time limits
TikTok allows users to set daily screen time limits to help regulate how much time is spent in the app. This can be useful for reducing exposure to unwanted sections like the Now feed. TikTok’s screen time limit settings are located in the app’s Digital Wellbeing controls.
Users can set their own screen time limit or enable parents/guardians to control it. The daily limit caps total time across all of TikTok. Once the limit is reached, TikTok temporarily restricts access until the next day. These restrictions make it harder to endlessly scroll through the Now feed.
According to TikTok’s support site, the screen time limit for ages 13-17 is set to 1 hour by default https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-information/screen-time. For younger users, TikTok recently announced that the limit will be 60 minutes and controlled by a parent or guardian https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/new-features-for-teens-and-families-on-tiktok-us. Setting appropriate screen time limits can help reduce unwanted Now feed viewing.
Blocking or muting accounts
You can block or mute accounts posting unwanted content. Blocking prevents a user from viewing your posts or contacting you. Muting hides their content without notifying them.
To block an account on TikTok:1
- Go to the person’s profile.
- Tap the 3 dot icon in the top right.
- Tap Block and follow the steps in the app.
Muting is done similarly by tapping Mute instead of Block. Muted accounts will no longer show up in your feed.
Blocking and muting can help curate your For You Page and remove unwanted content or accounts. Just be aware it does not prevent that content from showing up again later.
Using TikTok’s Digital Wellbeing controls
TikTok has built-in Digital Wellbeing controls that allow you to manage your screen time and limit the content you see. According to TikTok’s Digital Wellbeing page, you can enable Restricted Mode to filter content that may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Restricted Mode uses machine learning to identify and limit the appearance of content that may not be appropriate for all audiences. While it may not catch every piece of content, TikTok states Restricted Mode can proactively identify and filter some mature or complex themes.
To enable Restricted Mode:
- Go to your profile page
- Tap the 3 dots in the top right corner
- Select “Digital Wellbeing”
- Toggle on “Restricted Mode”
With Restricted Mode enabled, you may see less content from accounts you don’t follow or fewer posts that are considered potentially mature or complex.
Managing your FYP algorithm
The FYP (For You Page) algorithm is responsible for recommending content on your TikTok homepage. You can train the FYP algorithm to better reflect your interests and preferences by actively engaging with content you like and ignoring content you don’t.
Here are some tips for training your FYP algorithm:
- Like videos that you enjoy – This tells the algorithm you want to see more of that type of content.
- Comment on videos that interest you – Interacting boosts those videos in your recommendations.
- Share videos you like – Sharing also signals to the algorithm that you want more of that content.
- Watch videos all the way through – Completing a video makes it more likely to show up in your FYP again.
- Follow creators you like – Their content will be prioritized in your feed.
- Tap “Not Interested” on videos you don’t like – This helps refine your preferences.
- Choose “Not Interested in this video” for specific videos you don’t want recommended.
It may take some time for the algorithm to learn, but consistently interacting with content will eventually customize your FYP to better reflect your tastes and interests. Check out this guide for more tips on training your TikTok FYP algorithm.
Using TikTok’s Family Pairing
TikTok’s Family Pairing feature allows parents to restrict settings and features on their teens’ TikTok accounts.[1] To set up Family Pairing, parents need to download the TikTok app and create a TikTok account. Teens 13 and older can approve the pairing request from their parent.[2]
Once accounts are linked, parents have the ability to restrict certain features. This includes turning off the For You feed and removing the ability for others to comment on the teen’s videos. Parents can also restrict screen time and limit daily use of TikTok.
One of the key settings is the ability for parents to disable the “Now” section. This removes the personalized recommendations from appearing on a teen’s TikTok account. Parents can essentially limit the account experience to only content from accounts the teen follows.
Overall, TikTok’s Family Pairing gives parents more control over their teen’s settings and access. Disabling the Now section can help remove unwanted recommendations and restrict the account experience.
The pros and cons of removing Now
There are benefits and drawbacks to removing the Now section on TikTok. One of the main advantages is privacy. This section displays a user’s location, birthday, and name to anyone who views their profile. Removing the Now helps protect users’ personal information (source).
Another benefit is avoiding inappropriate or irrelevant content. The Now section shows videos tailored to a user’s interests and location. Some find this content distracting or undesired. Turning it off allows greater control over the viewing experience (source).
However, losing personalized recommendations can also be a downside. The Now section provides a continuous stream of engaging, tailored content. Removing it means missing out on videos users may enjoy. It also makes it harder to grow an audience, as relevant users will no longer be directed to your profile (source).
There are reasonable arguments on both sides. Ultimately, deciding to disable Now involves weighing one’s priorities in terms of privacy, interests, and audience growth on TikTok.
