TikTok ads are about to flood the apps search results

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Hold onto your hashtags, folks, because TikTok is flipping the script.

The platform is pumping ads into its search results, a move that will ensure users encounter branded content every time they search for a hashtag, a specific user, or any other content.

These ads, which are basically recycled from sponsored videos already doing their rounds on the platform, are TikTok’s latest attempt to “boost brand discovery.”

And here’s the kicker: these ads are going to be tailored to your interests based on your past searches and activities. That’s right, the all-knowing TikTok algorithm is now infiltrating your search results.

But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. TikTok claims that clicking on a sponsored post won’t mess up your search.

Here’s how these TikTok ads will work

The ad is supposed to blend in with the rest of your feed so you can keep scrolling past the ad-infested waters and onto your desired content.

And what about the advertisers?

Well, they’re going to be out in full force. TikTok has automatically enabled this feature for all existing merchants, meaning advertisers would have to actively choose to opt out to avoid appearing in search results. More info here.

So there you have it, folks. Another day, another way technology and advertising become more entangled, shaping—and sometimes disrupting—our digital lives. Cool, the future rocks.

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com.