TikTok officially rolled out its new Local Feed in the United States on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in how the social media platform connects users with their immediate surroundings. This new feature allows American users to discover content happening specifically in their neighborhood by opting into precise GPS tracking. This launch is the first major product update since the platform transitioned to new ownership under the TikTok USDS Joint Venture earlier this year.
The Local Feed appears as a dedicated tab on the main home screen of the app. It is designed to help people stay connected to their local communities by highlighting content related to dining, shopping, museums, and nearby events. By focusing on hyper-local information, the platform aims to provide a real-time “inside scoop” on must-try restaurants and small businesses in a user’s current vicinity.
A New Way to Discover Your Neighborhood
The Local Feed uses a specialized ranking algorithm to decide which videos appearing in the tab are most relevant to each person. This system considers three primary factors: the user’s geographic proximity, the specific topic of the video, and when the content was originally posted. By prioritizing recent posts, the app ensures that information about local events and news remains timely and useful for those looking for things to do immediately.
Users can browse through a variety of categories including travel, local news, and shopping suggestions. The feed also features a heavy rotation of posts from local creators and small businesses. This approach is intended to drive real-world foot traffic and sales for physical storefronts across the country. According to recent data, over 7.5 million small businesses already use the platform to reach customers, and this new feed provides a more direct way for them to connect with people who are physically nearby.
Privacy Controls and the Opt-In Process
One of the most notable changes accompanying the Local Feed is the way the app handles location data. Previously, the platform primarily tracked approximate locations, but the new terms of service under the U.S. joint venture now allow for the collection of precise GPS coordinates. However, the company has emphasized that this feature is strictly opt-in and will be set to the “off” position by default.
When a user first attempts to access the Local Feed, they will encounter a prompt asking for permission to use their precise location. For instance, on iOS devices, the pop-up notification allows users to choose between granting access once, only while using the app, or not at all. If a user decides to enable the feature, they can still manage these permissions at any time through the app’s settings menu. The joint venture stated that this approach gives people the choice to enable relevant local experiences while remaining in total control of their data.
Eligibility and Account Restrictions
Not all users will have immediate access to the new Local tab. To ensure safety and privacy, the platform has restricted the feature to users who are at least 18 years old. Additionally, the Local Feed will not appear for accounts that are set to private. Users who have configured their privacy settings to “friends” or “only you” will also be excluded from the feature.
This targeted rollout reflects a cautious approach to data sharing among younger and more private users. For those who do qualify, the location data collected to power the feed is stored and managed within the TikTok USDS Joint Venture’s secure environment. This setup was designed to address ongoing concerns regarding how American user data is handled and protected under the new ownership structure.
The New Era of TikTok U.S. Ownership
The introduction of the Local Feed follows a period of major changes for the platform in the United States. Last month, the app updated its privacy policy to reflect its new status as a joint venture involving U.S. investors. This transition has not been without its challenges, as the initial launch of the U.S.-led version of the app recently suffered a major outage caused by what was described as a cascading systems failure.
The Local Feed concept is not entirely new for the company, as similar “Nearby Feeds” were introduced to select European markets—including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany—in December. The U.S. version, however, is being positioned as a key tool for small business advertising. By demonstrating how many local enterprises rely on its services, the platform may be attempting to shield itself from future regulatory scrutiny.
This strategic move places the app in direct competition with other local discovery tools. By moving beyond just entertainment and into local services, the platform is betting that hyper-local discovery will keep users engaged longer. The goal is to make the app a practical tool for daily life, whether a person is looking for a new coffee shop or trying to find out what is happening at a local museum.
