TikTok
A global platform for creating, discovering, and sharing short-form, algorithm-driven video content. Its core mission is entertainment and virality, prioritizing discovery of new content and creators over social connection with existing friends.
"For You" Page (FYP): A highly personalized, endless stream of videos driven by an industry-leading recommendation algorithm.
Video Creation & Editing: Robust in-app tools for trimming, cutting, adding text overlays, effects, and adjusting speed.
Sounds & Music Library: Extensive commercial and user-generated sound clips that often become the basis for global trends.
Duet & Stitch: Features that allow users to collaborate by posting a side-by-side video or incorporating scenes from another user is content.
Snapchat
An American multimedia messaging app focused on ephemeral (disappearing) and real-time communication with close friends. It emphasizes authenticity and a more private, in-the-moment experience compared to the curated feed of Instagram.
Snaps & Chats: Photos/videos/messages that are only accessible for a brief time before they automatically delete.
Lenses & Filters: Market leader in Augmented Reality (AR) filters (like the famous face-altering ones) with billions of daily plays.
Snap Map: Allows users to see friends live locations (with privacy controls) and view public Snaps submitted from different locations.
Snapchat Stories: Collections of Snaps visible for 24 hours, a format which Instagram later adopted.
A visual discovery engine (or visual search engine) designed to help users find, save, and organize ideas and inspiration. It is focused on future-planning and taking action (like shopping or starting a DIY project), not social networking.
Pins & Boards: A Pin is an image/video linked to a website (the source), and a Board is a themed collection for organizing Pins (like a digital mood board).
Visual Search (Lens): Allows users to search for similar Pins by taking a photo of an object in the real world or cropping an existing Pin.
High Traffic Driver: Unlike social networks, Pins are evergreen and designed to drive high-intent traffic directly to external websites/stores.
Shopping Features: Dedicated product Pins, catalogs, and personalized shopping recommendations to facilitate direct e-commerce