TikTok new features 2025: AI Alive, feed control, fact notes, TikTok Shop & music tab

TikTok new features 2025 – What’s new on TikTok? The platform continues to evolve into an all-in-one creator hub. AI functions, new store tools, more control over your feed – TikTok is responding to community needs and at the same time wants to appear more serious. Particularly striking: the new features combine creativity with content quality. Here you can find out what has changed, how you can use it (also in our TikTok agency) – and why 2025 could be the most important update year since the introduction of Shorts.

AI Alive – photos become animated videos

The new AI Alive function brings your pictures to life. TikTok automatically converts static photos into short animated videos – including motion animations, overlays and music. The highlight: the AI is not only visually strong, but also safe. Content undergoes an internal check to prevent deepfake abuse. This makes the function not only exciting for creators, but also trustworthy. Similar to Instagram Reels, you can create more dynamics with little effort – perfect for slideshows, throwbacks or visual mini-stories.

• Animate photos using AI
• Content remains safe & authentic
• Ideal for short story videos

Looking for a good TikTok agency for your brand? Write to us or give us a call: Contact.

Feed control: Topics & Smart Keyword Filter

TikTok now lets you control your “For you” feed even more specifically. With “Manage Topics”, you can set the frequency of certain categories yourself – e.g. fewer pranks, more education, more travel. This is supplemented by a new keyword filter that automatically blocks content with certain terms. The AI also recognizes synonyms and variants. This function brings more focus, protects against toxic content and makes TikTok safer for brands.

• Manage topic frequency in the feed
• Filter unwanted content
• Brand safety through AI filters

Footnotes: Context & facts directly under videos

With Footnotes, TikTok is introducing a type of fact-checking on a community basis. Users with a high trust level can add additional information to viral videos – e.g. sources or corrections. The function is reminiscent of YouTube Shorts comments or community notes on X/Twitter, but is more visually integrated. For brands, news accounts or educational creators in particular, this is a new way of building authority – or clearing up misunderstandings.

• Fact checks directly below the video
• Community as a supervisory authority
• More trust for reputable accounts

TikTok music tab for songwriters

The music functions are being expanded. Creators who write songs can now officially register as “songwriters” and create their own music profile. All tagged works that are used by other creators, for example, appear in the new “Music” tab. Visibility and monetization increase – and TikTok continues to develop into a career springboard for music creators.

• New label “Songwriter” in profile
• Music tab with all your own songs
• Boost for musicians & producers

TikTok Shop now also in DE, FR & IT

Long awaited, now live: TikTok Shop launches in Germany, France and Italy. Users can store directly in the app – via shoppable videos, live commerce and their own store tab. The integration makes influencer marketing more measurable: clicks, purchases and conversions are tracked directly in TikTok Analytics. A must for e-commerce brands to avoid being left behind in 2025.

• In-app shopping & livestream sales
• Store tab in the Creator profile
• New conversion data in TikTok Analytics

Further functions: Digital Balance & Parent Mode

TikTok responds to criticism of the duration of use – with new tools for digital wellbeing. Wind-down mode reduces the sensory overload after 10 p.m. with calming sounds and meditation videos. At the same time, parents are given more control over screen time, content and breaks. Important for young target groups – an opportunity for brands to place responsible content in a targeted manner.

• Wind-down mode for evening use
• Parent dashboard with AI filters
• More trust in young target groups

Opportunities for your TikTok marketing?

2025 brings real change for creator and brand marketing on TikTok. AI Alive enables visual storytelling without complex production – comparable to Instagram Stories, but AI-based. Feed management and footnotes increase content quality – a plus for reputable channels. The TikTok Shop opens up new sales channels, especially in the DACH region. Early adopters of the new tools will benefit from greater visibility, control and credibility.

• Visual storytelling through AI Alive
• Content control through feed filters & notes
• E-commerce boost with TikTok Shop

What’s new on Instagram and YouTube?

Instagram and YouTube have both released major updates in 2025: Instagram is focusing on more community features such as reposts, friends tab and edits as its own app, while YouTube is revolutionizing the creator economy with AI shorts, AI overviews and new monetization rules. Both platforms are thus moving closer together, but their focus and tools remain different.

• Instagram new features
• YouTube new functions

Read more about our TikTok agency, Instagram agency and YouTube agency – One, your marketing agency for performance!