Once your video is recorded or uploaded, check the box in the lower right corner.
#TICTOC VIDEOS HOW TO#
Below, we’ll go over how to use TikTok’s auto captioning feature (and workarounds to use in the case that auto captions aren’t available).
#TICTOC VIDEOS MANUAL#
While this brings an unprecedented level of accessibility to the platform, the accuracy rates of automatically generated captions are notoriously low and manual user editing is still often needed. This feature automatically transcribes speech from a video to generate closed captions, and initially will only support American English and Japanese. In 2021, TikTok rolled out its auto-captioning feature in select countries. Captions also have the potential to improve user engagement, video viewing time, and viewing flexibility. Screenshots via How to add captions to your TikTokĬlosed captions are time-synchronized text that visually depicts the audio content, and make videos accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. By making content accessible to users with disabilities, the overall viewing experience is improved for any user (like the below example, where TikTok user explains how they manually added captions). In the meantime as TikTok continues to make improvements, users can advocate for accessibility on their own terms by following basic web accessibility standards with the features currently available. The lack of accessibility and usability is particularly stark when compared to interfaces from Google, Apple, and Microsoft – which strictly follow the recommended practices laid out by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Additionally, unfamiliar patterns & pathways within the app pose as a significant barrier to many users. According to one article, in fact, TikTok doesn’t even follow many basic rules or best practices of app design – notably, the platform’s navigation, information hierarchy, layout, and overall design are not conducive for an accessible user experience. TikTok accessibilityĪs far as accessibility is concerned, TikTok has a ways to go to reduce barriers for people with disabilities. In addition to posting, the app includes advertising and hyperlinking capabilities to help generate website traffic and potential leads. Brands like Chipotle, The Washington Post, and the NBA utilize TikTok to engage with their audience and to showcase their brand’s personality.
TikTok’s mission is to “inspire creativity and bring joy,” but it has also proven to be a useful tool for building brand awareness. Content with the app ranges substantially, and users often create lip-sync, dance, comedy, and talent videos. TikTok describes itself as “the leading destination for short-form mobile videos.” The social media network offers a place where users can create, edit, and share short-form video content that is between 15 seconds to 3 minutes in length. With that being said, let’s go over some of the app’s top accessibility features – including how to add captions to your TikToks, inserting audio descriptions, and best practices for formatting and design.īeginner’s Guide to Accessible Social Media Videos What is TikTok? While TikTok is actively working to improve accessibility (like the recent addition of auto-captions), the current features available to users offer a great starting point as something anyone can do with just a little added effort.Ĭreating accessible content can help you reach a new audience and provide a more interactive & engaging experience for viewers. However, the platform’s accessibility features leave something to be desired. alone, TikTok is one of the most popular apps of our time, particularly among Gen Z. With over two billion lifetime downloads and 50 million daily active users in the U.S.