According to Social Media Today, Instagram is looking to replicate TikTok features with a new tool under development.

Replication seems to go hand in hand with social media upgrades and it looks as if TikTok’s growing success has motivated Instagram to limit its losses to the China-based platform by copying some of its more attractive features. The theory seems to be that if Instagram replicates the things which are persuading its users to defect, its users will no longer get itchy feet. Jane Manchun Wong is a reverse engineering expert, and she’s uncovered the fact that Instagram is targeting TikTok with the development of a new tool called ‘clips.’ She says:

"Just like TikTok, “Clips” allows users to record segments of videos into a single video Story. Just like TikTok, users can overlay music on clips. Just like TikTok, users can adjust the speed and timer of each video clips."


”Instagram-Clips”

This is a similar move to the way Instagram responded to competition from Snapchat's Stories, AR masks, YouTube, Houseparty, and Squad – plus a whole bunch of other apps and functions. Now Facebook – via Instagram – is moving to fend off TikTok by making it less necessary for its users to leave if they like the look of a TikTok feature. TikTok has seen a steady rise in the last twelve months and now has more than 500 million active users. Instagram might also be mindful of criticisms aimed at TikTok’s lack of ability to keep hold of new users.

Facebook has no such problem. One thing it does have is a rock-solid user base, and it also benefits from being accessible in regions other apps can’t yet reach. When Facebook copies your features, although it’s flattering, you’re maybe going out of business. Shiny new apps get attention, but keeping users away from their well-established Facebook friends network is harder to achieve.

As successful as Snapchat has been, its growth has leveled out since Instagram stole Stories. Copying might seem unattractive and blatant, but for Facebook, it’s effective.

The question is, will the same tactic work against TikTok?