TikTok unveiled three new accessibility features on Thursday, coinciding with Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which is celebrated on the third Thursday in May. This year, the observance falls on May 15. Among the newly introduced features is an enhanced support system for alternative text (alt text), now utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically generate descriptive captions for images. Additionally, the platform has rolled out a high contrast mode and bolstered support for bold text. Earlier this week, TikTok also introduced a new tool for generating videos from images.
TikTok Introduces New Accessibility Features
In a post on its newsroom website, TikTok outlined the three new accessibility enhancements aimed at improving user experiences. These additions complement the existing features on the platform, which include auto-generated captions for videos, dark mode, text-to-speech functionality, and thumbnail animation.
The first enhancement involves AI-generated alt text. Previously, TikTok allowed users to manually input captions for photo posts, which could then be read by screen readers. With this new update, the platform leverages AI technology to produce descriptive captions for images lacking alt text. This advancement aims to enhance usability for individuals who are blind, have low vision, or process content in diverse ways.
Another new feature is the introduction of a high contrast mode that amplifies the foreground colors of text, icons, and various user interface elements. Users can enable this feature under the Accessibility section in their Settings, labeled as Increase colour contrast. The company asserts that this functionality will create a more accessible platform for those with low vision or sensitivities to low contrast.
Lastly, TikTok is expanding its support for devices set to display bold text. Users who have enabled bold text settings on their devices will now see all in-app text—including names, comments, captions, and messages—displayed in bold. This adjustment is anticipated to improve readability for those who prefer a bolder text format or have vision impairments. All newly introduced features are now available to users following the latest update.
