The feature “Nudge” does bring back flashbacks to the good old days on Facebook, doesn’t it? Well, in 2024, we have the nudge feature back on a different social media platform—TikTok. The feature was released in 2022 and has also made the rounds recently.
Given that most users weren’t aware of the Nudge feature being available on TikTok, many people are confused about its functionality. What does it do? How do you use it?
If you are one of those people who has been curious about what a nudge on TikTok means, we have all the details sorted out for you here.
Understanding the Significance of Nudge on TikTok
Let’s say that you have a favorite creator on TikTok. You like their content but wish to connect with them in real-time and converse with them via their live session hosting. This is where the “Nudge” feature comes into play.
TikTok has introduced a feature to enable users to notify their favorite creators on TikTok to come live. It’s more of a request than a demand and the creators have complete autonomy to accept or deny the request.
If the TikTok creator decides to accept their follower’s nudge and start a broadcast, they are notified about the same.
Besides this functionality, TikTok users can also use Nudge to start a conversation, much like they did on Facebook. The main intent behind TikTok releasing this particular feature for its platform was to increase engagement and make conversations easy for both viewers and creators.
Furthermore, when viewers request their favorite creators to go live, it translates to better engagement for the platform and increased revenue for the creators, who can earn through gifts and ad revenue.
Steps to Nudge a Creator on TikTok
Now that you know what a nudge on TikTok is and its functionality, it’s common to wonder how to use the feature in the first place. The steps are simple.
- From the search bar on TikTok, find the content creator whom you wish to Nudge.
- Click on the profile to open it.
- On their profile page, tap the Bell icon in the top right corner.
- If you don’t follow the creator, you must do that first.
- Following that, the “Live notifications” option will pop up.
- Find Nudge in the list of options and click the button next to it.
Once done, the creator will notify you that you have nudged them to go live. You will receive a notification accordingly, depending on whether or not they accept the request.
Steps to Nudge a Friend or Other User on TikTok
The Nudge feature is available for standard users on TikTok as well as for creator-viewer engagement. In this case, it works the same as Facebook’s Poke feature, where you can Nudge someone to let them know that you are interested in starting a conversation.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open your TikTok profile.
- On the top-right corner, find and click on the footprint icon. It shows the profile view list.
- Besides the people you follow, tap the Nudge button to notify them that you wish to talk.
Another alternative is to nudge a person from the TikTok direct messages. You can directly nudge the other user from the conversation thread that you have with your prior conversations.
Is There a Way to Turn Off Nudge on TikTok?
When you are a popular creator with millions of followers on TikTok, having thousands of people Nudge you on the platform at a time can be a little distressing.
In those cases, TikTok has allowed the creators to turn off the nudge feature if needed. Following are the steps for it:
- From TikTok Settings, click on Creators Tool.
- Tap on Nudge.
- Besides the “Allow viewers to nudge you” option, turn off the toggle.
Once done, your viewers won’t be able to Nudge you on TikTok anymore, ensuring that you aren’t bombarded with the same notifications repeatedly.
How Can One Know if They Have Been Nudged?
Given how foreign the concept of a Nudge is on TikTok, it isn’t surprising that many users aren’t even aware of how to decipher if they have been nudged in the first place.
If someone nudges you on TikTok, the platform immediately sends you a notification to let you know that someone has nudged you. Depending on who it is and whether you wish to continue the conversation, you can go ahead and either nudge them again or start a conversation.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Nudge on TikTok?
Almost every feature you come across on a social media platform comes with its pros and cons. Some good things are associated with it, and some are frustrating.
Advantages
There are two significant benefits of the Nudge feature on TikTok. Firstly, you get to interact with your favorite creators in real-time and request something from them, in this case, a livestream. During the livestream, you get to ask them questions, learn more about them in a raw and unfiltered manner, and make the most out of the parasocial relationship.
Besides the creator-viewer arc, the nudge option on TikTok also enables you to connect with fellow viewers on the platform, which is a bonus. You can build a community with like-minded people, talk with them, etc.
Disadvantages
Using Nudge can be a boon and a curse. When you constantly nudge a creator to go live on TikTok, you are putting some kind of pressure on them, which might not be appreciated. Despite being a public figure, they, too, have a life and might be busy with it outside their time creating content.
If you aren’t chronically online, you might miss when your favorite creator might accept your nudge and go live. So, there are high chances that you’d end up missing out on the live stream entirely, which beats the purpose of the feature in the first place.
Conclusion
The nudge feature on TikTok is a handy tool for boosting engagement between viewers and creators. It offers a casual way to request live streams from your favorite creators, similar to how Facebook’s “poke” function functioned. You can also nudge friends in DMs to remind them about a conversation. Remember, nudges are simply notifications, and creators can ignore them. But if you’re eager to see more live content or reconnect with a friend, a nudge on TikTok can be a subtle yet effective way to get their attention. Use it sparingly, though.
