TikTok is stepping up its game, and its latest move sends a clear message to YouTube: your desktop dominance over video days are numbered. On Thursday, the platform unveiled a sleek, revamped web experience that transforms what was once an afterthought into a serious contender for users’ laptop screen time.

What’s New in TikTok’s Desktop Glow-Up?
The update introduces several YouTube-esque features that make TikTok feel more like a complete video ecosystem. A modular layout offers a customizable experience, while a refreshed “For You” feed is optimized for desktop browsing. A new “Explore” tab makes content discovery easier,  and a floating player allows for seamless multitasking. 

Collections: TikTok’s Answer to YouTube Playlists
Perhaps the most telling notable addition is the new “Collections” feature, TikTok’s version of YouTube’s playlists, which lets users organize their favorite videos into themed groups. This signals a move toward more structured content consumption, making TikTok’s desktop experience more appealing for long-form viewing.

The Gaming Gambit
The boldest part of this update isTikTok’s push into game streaming territory. The new immersive LIVE gaming features allow streamers to broadcast in both portrait or landscape mode. Desktop viewers get a horizontal view by default, while mobile users can simply rotate their screens for the same experience. With this update, TikTok is making it clear to both YouTube and Twitch that it wants a share of the gaming content market. 

This isn’t TikTok’s first attempt to encroach on YouTube’s territory. The platform has been gradually increasing its maximum video length, experimenting with horizontal full-screen mode, and introducing video-scrubbing thumbnails. The direction becomes clear: TikTok wants it all.

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