Between tech behemoth Instagram copying its finest options (efficiently) and a potential ban looming, TikTok is being attacked on all fronts — nevertheless it’s combating again.

TikTok may be growing a brand new “TikTok Images” app, in accordance with The SpAndroid, who noticed references to “TikTok Images” within the back-end code of the present TikTok app. A possible new welcome message allegedly reads: “TikTok Images will probably be launched quickly, we hope that can assist you acquire new audiences within the new app. If the change is on, we’ll sync your public pictures to the brand new app, whether or not you shut the pop-up or not.” TikTok didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

It form of appears to be like like TikTok is copying Instagram’s copying technique, which it used to repeat TikTok’s short-form movies to create Reels. Copying is not new for TikTok, which already has a “picture mode” for slideshows of nonetheless photographs and tried a reasonably lame Instagram-like app referred to as Lemon8. Innovation for social media platforms is only a fixed cycle of 1 app stealing concepts from one other app till all apps turn into the identical app. Love!

This leak comes as TikTok faces its most aggressive battle but. For the primary time since 2020, TikTok had fewer new app downloads in 2023 than Instagram, in accordance with information from market intelligence agency Sensor Tower reported by the Monetary Occasions. In 2023, TikTok downloads grew simply 4 % in comparison with Instagram’s 20 % — and a part of that progress may be attributed to Instagram’s copycat technique.

All of the whereas, TikTok can be going through a possible ban. Lawmakers are working to move the “Defending Individuals from Overseas Adversary Managed Purposes Act,” which might ban TikTok and all different apps based mostly in China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran from U.S. app shops. President Joe Biden mentioned that if Congress does move the ban, he’d signal it into legislation. In response, TikTok inspired its U.S. customers to name their representatives to “cease a TikTok shutdown.”

We do not know if TikTok’s try to repeat Instagram will work in addition to Instagram’s copycat playbook has. However the app is pulling out all of the stops to take care of its maintain — and relevancy — on U.S. customers.