TikTok Advances To Google's Search Machine Competitors

TikTok is reportedly intending to compete with Google search engines (photo: dock. tiktok)

JAKARTA - TikTok is reportedly intending to compete with Google's search engines, quietly launching app search widgets.

The TikTok search gadget was introduced for iOS and Android devices. The goal is of course to establish itself as a search engine.

So, instead of opening the app then clicking the search button, when the user taps on the widget, they automatically drag them to the TikTok search screen.

The move was actually not surprising, as earlier this year TikTok launched an ad that aired in the UK featuring the slogan Cari with TikTok.

Now this announcementless launch signifies TikTok is serious enough to compete directly with Google search widgets.

Launching Mashable, Tuesday, May 16, TikTok is indeed a place for people to look for news. Evidenced through a survey conducted last summer by Ofcom. Where they found TikTok was a rapidly growing source of news among adults in the UK.

However, research conducted by News Guard late last year found TikTok searches showed nearly 20 percent misinformation.

To be considered a search engine, TikTok must address the rampant misinformation problem on its platform.

In addition, TikTok has recently faced allegations of having been exploited as a propaganda channel by the Chinese Communist Party, as well as utilizing users' personal information to track their activities.

No doubt, Western countries and their allies banned the social media from being operated on government devices.