---
title: TikTok built a $400B+ tech giant on the smartphone. Can it transition to TV?
description: TikTok has hit 1B+ monthly active users. Can a move to Amazon’s Fire TV app grow that audience?
---

[Hustle News ](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news)

# [TikTok built a $400B+ tech giant on the smartphone. Can it transition to TV?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/09052021-tiktok-tv)

 Written by [Trung T. Phan](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/trung-t-phan) | Nov 5, 2021 8:09:51 AM

It’s November, which means you’re allowed to put this [2-hour ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-yyCItiToQ)Christmas-themed YouTube video of a burning yule log on your TV.

If you’re looking for a bit more action, TikTok — the short video app owned by the [$400B+](https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/36Kr-KrASIA/TikTok-creator-ByteDance-hits-425bn-valuation-on-gray-market#:~:text=BEIJING%20%2D%2D%20The%20valuation%20of,Chinese%20technology%20news%20portal%2036Kr.&text=In%20April%2C%20valuation%20reached%20%24400,South%20China%20Morning%20Post%20reported.) Chinese firm ByteDance — has the answer.

#### **TikTok is now on Amazon’s Fire TV device**

According to [*The Wall Street Journal*](https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-is-now-on-tv-screens-is-it-still-tiktok-11636027201), the collaboration is a big opportunity for TikTok. The app already has **1B+** monthly users, but to expand it’ll have to find new audiences.

The TV screen offers a chance for younger TikTok users to share viral vids with their less tech savvy family members.

#### **There’s a catch, though**

Much of the TikTok magic doesn’t translate to the TV screen, per *WSJ*:

- **Dimensions: **TikTok is optimized for the vertical mobile experience. TVs default to horizontal, which leaves unattractive gaps on either side of the video on TVs.
- **No swiping: **The average TikTok user spends [52 minutes](https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/) a day on the app, encouraged by the phone’s infinite swipe experience. On the Fire TV, you click a controller like changing channels.
- **Not personalized:** TikTok is known for its eerily precise algorithm that feeds users exactly what they want. Since TV is a communal experience, the recommendations will not be as accurate.
- **No comments: **One of the most wild parts of the TikTok app is the comments section (you guessed it: TV users can’t comment).

#### **TikTok’s TV play…**

… coincides with a corporate reorganization at ByteDance. Its co-founder and former CEO Yiming Zhang just stepped down as chairman.

The move comes amid a crackdown from the Chinese government that’s led to the loss of power from leaders at the country’s [biggest tech firms](https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/03/tech/bytedance-founder-tiktok-yiming-zhang-intl-hnk/index.html): Alibaba, Kuaishou, JD, and Pinduoduo. 😬

At this rate, TV optimization may be the least of TikTok’s worries.

- **Read More:** Here’s [our previous coverage](https://thehustle.co/09292020-TikTok-recommendation-algorithm/) on “The secret sauce behind TikTok’s recommendation algorithm”

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/09052021-tiktok-tv)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Trung T. Phan"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2023-10-11T20:29:59.347Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-11-05T08:09:51Z",
  "headline" : "TikTok built a $400B+ tech giant on the smartphone. Can it transition to TV?",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 330,
    "url" : "https://7355427.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7355427/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/126829443-News-Brief_2021-11-05T010107.545Z.webp",
    "width" : 600
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/09052021-tiktok-tv",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "Hustle News"
  }
}
```