TikTok’s ephemeral content feature allows creators to share short videos and photos that disappear after 24 hours. Viewing this temporary content involves navigating to a specific section within the application. For example, one would typically access a user’s profile and look for a highlighted circle around their profile picture, indicating an active, time-limited post. Tapping this circle initiates playback of the content.
The availability of short-lived content provides several advantages for both creators and viewers. It encourages spontaneous content creation, fostering a sense of immediacy and authenticity. For viewers, it offers a continuous stream of fresh, informal updates from followed accounts. Introduced to mimic features popularized by other platforms, it represents a strategic adaptation to evolving user expectations and content consumption patterns.