TikTok Reportedly Exploring Peer-To-Peer Payments In Direct Messages

TikTok is reportedly developing a feature that would enable users to send money to each other through direct messages, potentially expanding the platform's financial services. The feature, still in the early stages and not yet tested, could utilize TikTok Pay, its existing payment service in Southeast Asia. The feature would allow recipients to accept payments before a certain expiration date and senders to receive transaction updates through notifications or the TikTok inbox.

Users may also be able to attach a message to their payment, similar to captions on Venmo. While the feature's release is not guaranteed, its inclusion would align with ByteDance's broader strategy to keep users within its ecosystem and capture more spending. This move would represent a significant expansion from TikTok's current financial services, which include purchases through TikTok Shop and the use of digital coins to send virtual gifts to creators.

While the convenience of sending money through direct messages is apparent, there are also concerns about potential scams, fraud, and the ease with which users might spend impulsively.