TikTok introduces Local Feeds, a location-based discovery experience for users 18 and older, marking the platform’s first new feature for its U.S. audience following recent ownership changes in the region.

The feature operates identically to TikTok’s recently launched Nearby Feeds in the UK and Europe. Local Feeds invites users to “live like a local” through a home screen designed to feature content related to travel, events, restaurants and shopping, as well as posts from small businesses and local creators, according to the company’s announcement.

TikTok displays posts in the Local Feed based on location, content topic and posting time.

Small Business Impact

TikTok’s announcement highlights the platform’s history as a supporter of small businesses in the United States. ByteDance originally formed this argument to justify the app’s economic value following passage of legislation that threatened to ban TikTok in the region.

A 2025 Oxford Economics report finds 7.5 million businesses operate on TikTok in the U.S., employing more than 28 million workers.

Privacy and Access Controls

TikTok USDS (U.S. Data Security) now oversees U.S. operations following the national takeover. Concerns emerged regarding minor updates to the platform’s privacy and tracking policies in the days after the transition.

The Local Feeds feature remains turned off by default for all users and is unavailable to those under 18. The feature’s precise location tracking activates only when users open the app, according to TikTok USDS’s statement.