How to Find and Create Live Videos on TikTok

If you're just starting to explore TikTok and want to do a live video (as opposed to the usual recorded TikTok video), I'm afraid I have bad news for you.

SummaryTo find a live videoTo gift a favorite creatorHow to go liveHow to check your diamonds

You can't – at least not yet.

Unlike Facebook/Instagram, which allows anyone to create a live video, TikTok only makes live videos available if you are 16 or older and older than 1,000 subscribers. Once you qualify, however, it's a relatively simple process.

But before you start a live stream, here's a little advice on how to find one. Note that right now you can only see live streams from people you follow, so if you really like live broadcasts, the best thing to do is follow a group of people.

To find live video

• Tap the Inbox icon at the bottom of the screen
• Look for the entry that starts with "TikTok:LIVE now:" If there's a live stream going on, you'll see it listed here. Alternatively, if you tap on the entry, you'll see a list of past live shows.

To offer to a favorite designer

Live videos offer one of the few ways people can show their appreciation for their favorite TikTok personalities in a convenient way. TikTok calls it Live Gifting, and while the process is a bit complicated, it's actually a way to toss a coin to your TikToker (but only if you're at least 18).

Here's how:

• First, you need to buy virtual coins. Go to your profile page (by tapping the "Me" icon in the lower right corner).
• Tap the three lines in the top right corner to access "Settings &Privacy".
• Select "Balance"> "Top Up".
• Select the number of coins you wish to purchase. For example, you can buy 70 coins for 99 cents.
• Select your payment method (via Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit card, etc.).

Now when you watch a live TikTok video and you like what you see, you can tap the gift icon at the bottom of the screen to select the type of virtual gift you you want to send. (This only works for live streams, not recorded content.) Each gift has a different value.

What does the creator get? Well, aside from the good feelings of the virtual gift that just popped onto the screen, the creator is getting some hard cash - although the amount isn't exactly clear. According to its description, TikTok takes your virtual gift and turns it into what it calls diamonds. The creator can then exchange these diamonds for real money. How much? Said TikTok, “The applicable monetary compensation will be calculated by us based on various factors, including the number of diamonds a user has accumulated. »

Want to participate in this? Well, if you're over 16 and have at least 1,000 followers, here's how to start a live stream on TikTok:

How to live

• Tap the plus sign at the bottom of the screen (the same you always do to start a new video).
• Beneath the record button, where it usually says "Camera" and "Models", you will also have a new label that says "Live". Press it.
• At the top of the screen, you can now add a description and a cover photo.
• Press the big "Go Live" button.

And there you are!

According to TikTok, if you tap the three dots during your broadcast, you can change several visual settings and filter comments. (And since you're live, you can also respond to comments during the broadcast.) You can also add up to 20 moderators if things start to get busy.

How to verify your diamonds

If you want to see how many gifts you received during your live stream, just go to the same place where you would buy virtual coins:

• Tap the three lines in the upper right corner to access 'Settings &Privacy'> 'Balance'.
• Tap "LIVE Gifts" to see how many Diamonds you received today, how many you have in total, and how much real money is in your balance. You can withdraw money by tapping the "Withdraw" button at the bottom of the screen. Tap the icon in the top right corner to see your total winnings and how much you have withdrawn.

If you're serious about your TikTok streams, then going live is a great way to engage with your fans and friends and encourage them to watch your saved videos. And who knows? You may end up with a few virtual gifts to boot.

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