TikTok may soon enable users to send money directly through direct messages.

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      It seems like TikTok is looking to add another feature that keeps users engaged within the app.

      According to Bloomberg, TikTok is allegedly developing a method for users to send money to one another through direct messages. If implemented, this would expand the app's presence in financial services, following the examples set by PayPal and Venmo.

      The feature was discovered embedded in the code of TikTok’s US iPhone app and is believed to operate using TikTok Pay, which is already active in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand for purchases on TikTok Shop.

      How would the money transfer function on TikTok operate?

      From the information in the code, it appears that recipients must tap to accept the incoming money before it expires. Senders will receive notifications through push alerts or their inbox, and there may be an option to include a message with the payment, similar to how Venmo allows transaction captions.

      A representative from TikTok stated that this feature is not currently being tested in any market, indicating that it is still in the early stages. Although ByteDance has not confirmed the upcoming feature, the preparatory work suggests that the company is giving it serious consideration.

      Why is TikTok venturing into the payments space?

      Social media platforms are already dominant in terms of our time consumption, and now they aim to capture a portion of our financial transactions as well. TikTok currently leads global app revenue, with Sensor Tower data indicating that users have spent over $2.9 billion on the platform this year alone. In the United States, expenditures on TikTok surpass those on YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram.

      At present, TikTok users can purchase coins to send as gifts to content creators, and many users already provide their Venmo or Cash App details in their bios for direct payments from followers. An integrated DM payment feature would provide creators with a seamless way to receive funds from their fans.

      However, TikTok's payment features have faced scrutiny, with several lawsuits alleging that the app facilitates exploitation and dubious financial transactions. It remains to be seen whether this new feature will be launched, but the inclination is clear: TikTok aims to evolve beyond being a platform solely for video consumption.

      Rachit is an experienced tech journalist with more than ten years of experience in the consumer technology sector.

      In other news, a recent report claims that Meta is compensating influencers to counteract proposals for banning teen social media accounts worldwide.

      Meta is reportedly bringing in paid influencers to advocate against blanket bans on teen social media use in various countries.

      Picture this: Meta hosts a gathering for parenting influencers at a picturesque venue by Sydney Harbour, providing customized scout badges and gourmet s'mores, and encouraging them to inform their followers that broad restrictions on teen social media use are misguided. This was the case during a Sydney event staged by Meta in July 2025, just five months ahead of Australia’s significant under-16 ban. The Tech Transparency Project report reveals that this approach has now extended to over a dozen countries considering similar limitations.

      In another astonishing development, an unexpected TikTok has led to the discovery of a rare underground eel species in India.

      Typically, a TikTok video might lead to a culinary creation or a dance challenge, but one particular video has led scientists directly to a newly identified species of fish. Researchers have discovered a new genus and species of subterranean earthworm eel residing beneath the Indo-Gangetic Plain in Bihar, northern India. Dubbed Gangaichthys indonepalicus, it is the first underground eel documented in the Gangetic Basin, all originating from a random borewell video.

      Additionally, Gen Z is now shifting from doomscrolling to birdwatching on TikTok.

      Birdwatching is attracting an unexpected new following on TikTok, where Gen Z users are turning bird identification, wildlife photography, and even traditional bird ringing into engaging social media content. The Guardian has reported that posts with hashtags #birdwatching and #birdtok have increased by one-third in the past three months, while #birding posts have surged by 40% in the UK. Global posts featuring any of these hashtags have now surpassed one million, with one video showcasing a seagull being fed raw salmon garnering over 52 million views.