The key facts
- TikTok launched the
From a social network to a superapp
TikTok added an in-app restaurant guide this week — another step in expanding the service beyond a social network. As TechCrunch notes, the company, which moved to new, predominantly American ownership in January,is deliberately moving toward the
superapp
model — a single platform where users can not only watch videos but also shop, book trips, send money, and play games. Chinese apps like WeChat, which combine messaging, payments, and an app store, are already known for this model; whether it remains viable outside China is an open question, but TikTok, in the publication's assessment, is trying to test it. Restaurants, payments, and bookingsThe new
Must Eat
feature gathers restaurant recommendations and collections based on more than 40 million posts and comments : venues can be browsed by city and filtered by cuisine, price, rating, and location. This puts TikTok in direct competition with Yelp and Google Maps — especially since the platform has already added reviews, maps, opening hours, and ratings to venue pages.
Payments and financial services
In August, Bloomberg reported that TikTok is developing a money-sending feature via direct messages; at launch it will rely on TikTok Pay, which is already used for purchases in TikTok Shop in Southeast Asia. In addition, Reuters reported in March that TikTok filed an application with Brazil's central bank to operate as a fintech company offering credit and payment services. The publication calls the move into financial services a significant step: it is expected to boost engagement, open new revenue streams, and compete with fintech startups and marketplaces. Sports, travel, music, and entertainmentIn early June, TikTok launched a dedicated hub for the FIFA World Cup with scores, schedules, standings, and highlights — built on the sports product TikTok GamePlan; the company also has partnerships with MLS and MLB. In May,
