TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create, share, and discover videos spanning various categories like dance, comedy, education, and more. The app has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
One of the key features on TikTok is the Discover page. This is a page where users can find new videos and creators to follow based on their interests. The Discover page shows trending hashtags, sounds, and effects as well as curated video playlists and suggested accounts to follow.
The Discover feature allows users to easily find new content and creators that match their tastes. It is an important part of the TikTok experience for exploration beyond just the main For You feed.
What is the TikTok Discover Page?
The Discover page on TikTok allows users to discover new content and creators on the platform. It is essentially TikTok’s version of an explore page, similar to the explore tabs found on platforms like Instagram and YouTube. According to TikTok’s Help Center, the Discover page “allows you search and explore the wide variety of content in the TikTok community.”1
On the Discover page, TikTok curates trending hashtags, sounds, and effects from across the platform. This provides an easy way for users to find popular and emerging content. The page also surfaces recommended videos and creators you may be interested in based on your viewing history and interactions. Overall, the Discover page enables you to find new videos, creators, trends, and communities to follow on TikTok beyond just the content in your main Following feed.
Where to Find the Discover Button on Mobile
On the mobile TikTok app for both iOS and Android devices, the Discover button can be found at the bottom of the screen on the menu bar. The menu bar has icons for the Home feed, Discover, Post/upload, Inbox, and Profile pages. The Discover icon looks like a search magnifying glass.
According to TikTok’s Help Center article “Discover and search”, the Discover button is located at the bottom of the TikTok mobile app screen. Tapping on the Discover icon will take users to the Discover page to search for videos and discover new content and creators.
Navigating to Discover on Mobile
To get to the Discover page on mobile, start by tapping the search icon on the bottom toolbar. The search icon looks like a magnifying glass and is located on the far right of the toolbar. Once you tap the search icon, you’ll see a row of options appear above it.
Swipe left through those options until you see the “Discover” button. Tap on “Discover” to be taken to the Discover page. This is TikTok’s hub for exploring popular trends, categories, and hashtags (source).
The Discover page makes it easy to immerse yourself in different interest areas and keep up with viral content. You can scroll through trending hashtags, curated video playlists, and personalized recommendations.
Where to Find the Discover Button on Desktop
On the desktop version of TikTok, the Discover button can be found in the left sidebar menu. To access it:
- Go to tiktok.com and log into your account.
- In the left sidebar, you will see a menu with various options like “Home”, “Following”, and “Discover”.
- Click on the “Discover” option in this left sidebar menu.
This will take you to the Discover page where you can search for new videos and creators to follow based on your interests.
Using the Discover Page
The Discover page on TikTok consists of three main sections that allow you to explore new content:
For You – This is a personalized feed of recommended videos based on your interactions, likes, shares, follows, and more on TikTok. The algorithm works to surface new content and creators you may be interested in. You can scroll through this feed and interact with videos to further refine recommendations.
Topics – Browse through trending topic pages like gaming, beauty, sports, DIY, animals and more. Each topic page surfaces popular sounds, hashtags, creators, and videos related to that category. This allows you to dive deeper into your interests.
Creators – Discover new creators to follow based on your interests. You may see popular creators in niche categories or smaller creators the algorithm thinks you’ll enjoy. Tap “Follow” on creator profiles you like to start seeing their content.
The Discover page essentially allows you to move beyond just your main feed and find new areas of TikTok tailored to your tastes. It’s a hub to interact with as you look to expand who you follow and what you watch on the app.
Personalized Recommendations
The algorithm behind the Discover page shows you personalized recommendations based on your interests and interactions on TikTok. According to TikTok’s support page, the recommendations are tailored to each user and influenced by factors like the videos you like, share, comment on, and watch fully.
When you first join TikTok, the algorithm gets a sense of your interests based on the content you engage with. Over time, it continues learning about your preferences to serve you increasingly relevant and personalized recommendations on the Discover page.
So the more you interact with videos that appeal to you, the better the recommendations become. TikTok’s goal is to create a Discover page that feels tailored just for you.
Finding New Content
One of the best ways to find new and trending content on TikTok is by using the Discover page. The Discover page provides a tailored feed of videos based on your interests and what’s popular on TikTok.
You can find new creators, songs, hashtags, and effects to follow by tapping on them from the Discover feed. This expands the content and recommendations you see in your main For You feed.
For example, if you tap on a video you like that uses a certain sound or effect, TikTok will recommend more videos using that same sound or effect. Tapping on hashtags in videos opens up a page showing other videos using that hashtag.
Following new creators from your Discover page also helps populate your For You feed with more content from those creators. So exploring and interacting with new videos on the Discover page allows TikTok to refine the recommendation algorithm and show you more of what you’re interested in.
Following New Creators
The Discover page is a great place to find and follow new creators that you may be interested in. The page shows a tailored selection of popular and recommended videos and creators based on your interests. Simply scrolling through Discover exposes you to new creators that TikTok’s algorithm thinks you’ll like.
If you find a video from a creator you’re not familiar with but you enjoy their content, you can easily follow them right from the Discover feed. Their profile picture appears in the upper left corner of each video. Tap on their profile picture and you’ll be taken to that creator’s profile page. From there, you can tap the Follow button to begin seeing more of their videos in your Following feed and get updates when they post new content.
Expanding the creators you follow is a great way to diversify the content you see in your main TikTok feed. It helps you branch out and discover new genres, styles, and perspectives you may not have seen before. The Discover page provides a simple way to sample different creators and choose to follow the ones whose content resonates with you.
According to TikTok’s Trend Discovery report, popular creators to follow in 2023 cover a wide range of content styles including comedy, dance, food, beauty, and more. Following some of these up and coming creators from the Discover page can liven up your For You feed.
Conclusion
The Discover page on TikTok is a great way to find new content and creators to follow based on your interests. You can access it easily on mobile by tapping the magnifying glass icon and selecting “Discover” at the bottom. On desktop, it’s located in the sidebar navigation.
The Discover feed shows trending videos, sounds, hashtags, and creators tailored to you. Take advantage of the personalized recommendations to stay on top of the latest viral content. The page is also useful for searching topics and finding creators in specific niches to follow.
Overall, the TikTok Discover page is a valuable tool for exploring new areas of the app and expanding the content you see. Check it regularly to discover fresh videos and creators that align with your tastes.
