Video-sharing service TikTok has begun blocking App Store links that creators post in their bios.
The ban will have a significant impact on ad campaign agreements between content creators and brands, and will also extend to third-party services that provide the ability to post links in bios, such as b. Linktree.
Sendit co-founder David Tesler, who first spotted the change, posted it on Twitter and said he and others tested it on a number of accounts and found that the App Store said strong directional links were no longer valid. Instead, the link displays an "The operation could not be completed" message.
(Tesler) indicated that TikTok excludes accounts with advertising relationships from this change.
While TikTok has yet to release an official statement about the latest changes, the company has confirmed that individual creator accounts will no longer be able to post links to App Store pages. However, you can still post links to websites.
Now only business accounts on TikTok can post links to App Store pages. There is no fee for this feature, which means companies do not have to pay to add a link or agree to promote on the platform to use this option.
In addition, TikTok announced that it will be launching a new button (download the app) for business accounts, which will also be free.
The company believes the change will help users differentiate between personal and business accounts. But there also appears to be an incentive to reallocate more ad money, now paid to creators via campaigns, directly to TikTok, forcing them to switch to business accounts.
Now, companies that want to direct TikTok users to the App Store are more likely to promote the account through ads using feature links.
It is worth noting that in recent years, TikTok has become more and more influencing app rankings in the App Store. Some applications have been artificially inflated by the flow of platform users to download after launching marketing activities. activity on the platform.