TikTok is now testing a new Horizontal Full-Screen Mode on select users.
The new mode has started rolling out to some users in various parts of the world. It allows them to view videos like they were watching on YouTube.
Currently, most users can only watch TikTok clips in the vertical orientation, and there is no full-screen mode available. But that could potentially change soon.
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WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 07: In this photo illustration, the TikTok app is displayed on an Apple iPhone on August 7, 2020 in Washington, DC.
TikTok's New Horizontal Full-Screen Mode is Here
As per the latest news story by Tech Crunch, the Chinese social media app confirmed that it has started testing a new horizontal full-screen mode. And as such, some users from various parts of the globe might have started getting their hands on it ahead of everyone else.
The new feature brings a "full screen" option that YouTube users are highly familiar with. It comes with a rectangle icon, which lets viewers watch videos horizontally.
And from there, instead of merely viewing clips vertically, you can start playing them in full-screen horizontal mode. It only becomes a big deal as TikTok is notably known for playing videos vertically. But most video-sharing services already offer this simple feature right off the bat.
It seems that it is part of the expansion of TikTok features. Tech Crunch notes in its story that the Chinese social network is slowly introducing functions that compete with its rivals like YouTube.
In fact, the China-based video-sharing service has started allowing users to post videos that last for roughly 10 minutes. Instead of exclusively offering short-term videos, long-term counterparts are slowly taking over.
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A photo taken on December 14, 2018 in Paris shows the logo of the application TikTok. - TikTok, is a Chinese short-form video-sharing app, which has proved wildly popular this year.
And now, it looks like these long-term videos are getting their much-awaited full-screen mode. It only makes sense as more and more 10-minute clips are storming the platform.
It is worth noting that some content creators have decided to upload their videos horizontally. And at the beginning of their clip, they would have to ask their users to "turn your phone."
But when the new full-screen mode arrives, Tech Crunch highlights that this might no longer be a thing.
For now, the video-sharing platform is still testing out the said feature. With that, it remains to be seen when the full-screen mode will start rolling out to all users.
TikTok is Still the Most Downloaded App
Even without that horizontal mode option, it turns out that TikTok still reigns on top.
According to a recent report by Social Media Today, the Chinese service sat on top of the list of most downloaded apps last November.
In the combined Apple App Store and Google Play Store rankings, TikTok garnered first place with a staggering 50 million downloads. Meanwhile, Instagram and Facebook ranked second and third, respectively.
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