TikTok's parent company secretly launches Whee: a new photo-sharing app for close friends

ByteDance, the creator of TikTok, has quietly introduced a new social media app called Whee. Available on the Google Play Store, Whee is currently limited to a select number of countries like Australia, Turkey, Thailand, Pakistan, and more, but excluding major markets like the US for now. The app focuses on sharing genuine, real-life photos with a chosen group of friends, akin to Instagram’s close friends feature, or even more similar to platforms like BeReal or Retro.

Whee enables users to capture and share spontaneous moments within a closed circle, and unlike the standard Instagram experience, only selected friends can view the photos, ensuring content remains private. The app's interface features a photo feed with options for likes and comments. Interestingly, the company also launched TikTok Notes a few months ago, an alternative app quite similar to Instagram as well.

The app is operational in about twelve countries, with plans for further expansion. Attempts to access the app from unsupported regions result in error messages, and VPNs do not circumvent these restrictions. Users must have a TikTok account to register and integrate with Whee, a requirement also seen in the new ByteDance’s TikTok Notes app.