TikTok is now letting everyone DM each other with voice memos and pictures

Every platform wants to be the place you hang with friends — even Spotify as of this week — so it’s apparently time for TikTok to shore up its direct messaging feature! It told TechCrunch

(They won’t show up for accounts that can’t DM to begin with, of course — “Direct Messaging is only available to accounts 16 years and older which means these features are only available to those accounts,” TikTok spokesperson JaShel Jones clarifies to The Verge.)

I checked, and sure enough, I can send both, as well as videos up to one minute long (though that last has been possible for a while). Beware that if you hold down on the microphone button to start a recording, you’ll automatically send that recording as soon as you let go, so be sure to drag it up or left if you want a chance to cancel!

With my finger held down on the microphone button, I can swipe up or left if I DON’T want to automatically send the message. | Image: TikTok, Sean Hollister / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Image: TikTok, Sean Hollister / The Verge">

You’re limited to sending up to nine images (and videos) at a time, and both voice memos and videos can’t be more than a minute long.

Update, August 29th: Added TikTok clarification about who can DM and who cannot.