TikTok's Clear Mode Feature Built for Distraction-Free Experience

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 31 May 2022, 08:05 pm

Social media app TikTok announced on May 31 that it is testing a new feature that will let its users scroll through their timeline without any distraction.

TikTok's Clear Mode

According to TechCrunch, the social media app is developing a feature called Clear Mode. The feature is now being tested by selected TikTok users.

Clear Mode removes the other things normally seen on a timeline, like buttons and captions.

The feature was first discovered by social media consultant Matt Navarra, and shared some screenshots on Twitter. According to Navarra, once the Clear Mode feature is activated, users will only see the videos on their timelines.

TikTok is testing ‘Clear Mode’ for a distraction-free viewing experience https://t.co/HmEur1qfDa pic.twitter.com/jAIUC6vFse
— Matt Navarra - Exiting X… Follow me on Threads (@MattNavarra) May 26, 2022

Other information such as usernames, audio information, captions, likes, comments, and more will disappear.

TikTok users who are part of the testing and have access to the new feature will see the option when they hold their screen. The Clear Mode setting can be accessed through the "Add to Favorites" button.

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Once the feature is rolled out worldwide, it could be a great addition for those who want a cleaner timeline and those who just want to focus on what they are watching.

This feature can also be used to remove captions and usernames that cover up parts of the video. Users will no longer have to crop the video to get rid of the distractions because Clear Mode can easily do it for them.

TikTok did not share much about the new feature as it is still in limited testing, and there may be some adjustments made before it gets rolled out to more users.

Clear Mode is not the only feature that the social media app is working on. TikTok is also working on HTML5 games that will be added soon on the platform.

TikTok is also working on a LIVE mobile games feature that will allow its creators to interact better with fans and livestream at the same time. It is also working on a way for its users to identify comments that they believe are inappropriate through a private dislike button.

Just like on YouTube, the dislike button won't be public, and commenters will not be notified that someone had disliked their comment, according to 9to5Mac.

TikTok's Dislike Button

In a blog post, TikTok stated that they've decided to add a dislike button on the platform after reading through the community feedback. It is also a way for the platform to keep its comment section relevant and free of harassment.

Once a user dislikes a video, it signals the app that they are not interested in the content and won't be suggesting a similar one. It can completely change the user's algorithm.

The comment dislike feature does the same thing. It also alerts the app that there is an inappropriate comment on a video and will investigate it. Disliking a comment is almost similar to reporting a comment for violating TikTok's community guideline.

According to The Verge, the social media app is also currently experimenting with sending reminders to creators about comment filtering, bulk block, and deleting high volume of comments. However, the company did not reveal when the reminders will be sent.

In a transparency report, TikTok revealed that it removed more than 85 million videos on the platform, from October 2021 to December 2021 for violating its guidelines. That is 1% of the total videos on the app.