In a significant move toward digital inclusivity, TikTok has unveiled a suite of new accessibility features aimed at making its platform more navigable for users with visual impairments. The social media giant announced on Wednesday that it is expanding its accessibility toolkit with AI-generated ALT text for photos, enhanced contrast options, and support for device-level bold text preferences.

AI Steps In Where Creators Leave Off

Building upon its April introduction of ALT text support for still images, TikTok is now testing an artificial intelligence system that automatically generates descriptive text for photos when creators don’t add it themselves. This feature serves as a safety net, ensuring that even content without manual descriptions remains accessible to those using screen readers.

“We know that when people feel seen, heard, and supported, they’re empowered to share their stories, create and connect with others in meaningful ways,” TikTok stated in their announcement, as reported by TechCrunch.

The move mirrors strategies implemented by competitors like Instagram, which has utilized AI for ALT text generation since 2018. While TikTok’s implementation is still in testing, it represents a significant advancement in the platform’s accessibility infrastructure.

“If a creator forgets to add their image description, TikTok’s AI will generate one for them,” notes Tech Edt, highlighting how the system works as a backup rather than a replacement for creator-generated descriptions.

Visual Enhancement Options

Beyond the AI-generated descriptions, TikTok has introduced additional tools to improve visual accessibility. A new high-contrast mode, accessible through the “color contrast” option in the app’s accessibility settings, increases the foreground color of text, icons, and user interface elements—a particularly valuable feature for users with low vision or sensitivity to low contrast displays.

The platform has also implemented support for device-level bold text preferences, automatically displaying all in-app text in bold when a user has enabled this setting on their device. This seamless integration enhances readability without requiring additional configuration within the app itself.

Building on Existing Foundations

These new features complement TikTok’s existing accessibility tools, which include auto-generated captions for video content, dark mode, text-to-speech functionality, and adjustable text size options throughout the app.

The ALT text feature, which allows creators to provide descriptive text for photos, works by making this information available to screen readers, which can then vocalize the content for users who cannot see the images directly. The manual option remains available and preferable, giving creators control over how their visual content is described, with the AI generation serving primarily as a fallback mechanism.

“While these descriptions may not always be perfect, they provide a helpful layer for users who can’t see the images,” according to Tech Edt’s analysis of the new features.

TikTok’s accessibility push comes at a time when digital platforms face increasing scrutiny regarding their inclusivity efforts. By implementing these features, the company appears to be taking a proactive stance on accessibility rather than waiting for regulatory pressure.

“We see accessibility not just as a responsibility, but as an opportunity to innovate and foster a more inclusive platform for our global community,” TikTok stated, emphasizing their commitment to universal design principles.

As social media becomes an increasingly essential communication channel, these types of accessibility improvements may help ensure that platforms like TikTok remain usable for the widest possible audience, regardless of ability or disability status.