The TikTok US local feed feature is a new tab in the app that offers viewers videos from events, stores, restaurants, and museums that are close to them. Not long after the platform changed hands in the US, this feature was added.
Its objective is to assist people in identifying local companies, not to engage with their neighbors. By default, it is off, and users have to turn it on. But the app’s updated terms of service let it get accurate positions even when the feed isn’t active.
The TikTok US local feed feature is all about geography, and the main “For You” page shows you things based on how much you’ve interacted with them in the past. The order of posts is based on their relevance, recency, and proximity. People under 18, people with private accounts, and people who only want to see “friends” won’t see the tab.
How does the TikTok US local feed feature work, and why does it exist?
You can now find the TikTok US local feed feature under the new “Local” option in the TikTok app. When you initially use the app, both iOS and Android users see a notice from the system asking if they can get exact location data.
Users can choose between “allow once,” “allow while using,” or “don’t allow.” If authorized, the stream will be filled with videos from small companies and producers who are near where the viewer is right now.
This is what TikTok believes users can do to find products in real stores. According to Engadget, the feed aims to provide consumers with local information about must-try restaurants, shops, museums, and events.
This isn’t a totally new thought. TikTok tried out a “Nearby” feed like this one in the UK, France, Italy, and Germany in late 2025. The US version operates the same way, but it’s more of an issue for privacy because American investors have modified the platform.
The timing is excellent. The new US joint venture, which includes Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, is an attempt by the company to show regulators that it is worth something in the economy.
An Oxford Economics report says that TikTok says 7.5 million businesses in the US use the site and that those businesses employ more than 28 million people. The local feed lets those businesses talk to people who are walking by.
What the local feed means for small businesses and local discovery
The TikTok US local feed feature is part of a bigger plan by TikTok to get small and medium-sized businesses to make content and advertise on the site. People who are walking or driving a distance away can now easily see local businesses without having to rely on big national campaigns.
The company will add ads to the local feed tab, but businesses don’t have to pay to be in it. The algorithm now prefers posts that have location tags, timely updates about events or hours, and real video formats that are like regular TikTok videos.
For users, the value proposition is that it is easy to use. According to TechCrunch, instead of having to search for them on Google Maps or Yelp, the feed shows you video previews of what a restaurant looks like inside, how busy a museum is that afternoon, or what a local boutique is selling. It changes how people find things in their area from searching to browsing passively with the help of algorithms.
But the feature doesn’t try to help people get to know each other or form groups. TikTok created the feed to put businesses ahead of people. Users won’t see their neighbors or strangers nearby unless those people are posting as local business owners or creators.
Privacy, default settings, and what users should know
The TikTok US local feed feature is helpful, but it also raises big privacy issues. By default, the feed is off, and you have to turn it on. But TikTok’s January 2026 terms of service update quietly changed the words “approximate location” to “precise location information.” This limitation is true for all users who have location services turned on at the device level, even if they never use the local feed.
TikTok stresses that it only collects exact location data when the app is open and that users can control this limitation through both in-app toggles and iOS and Android system settings. However, people who care about privacy are still worried.
Oracle, a major investor in the new US TikTok company, has been in the business of building data infrastructure for a long time. People are wary of the company’s founder, Larry Ellison, because he has said things in the past about behavior and surveillance that make individuals uneasy.
If you’re thinking about turning on the feature, you should think about these things:
- Off by default: The Local tab is off by default, so you need to go to settings and turn it on.
- Granular permissions: On iOS, you can give someone “allow once” access instead of permanent access.
- No under-18 access: People under 18 can’t use this feature at all.
- Data use is not limited to the feed: data is used in more places than just the feed. If your device’s location services are on, TikTok may be able to find out where you are even if you’re not using the app.
FAQ
Q: Is the TikTok US local feed feature on TikTok set to be active by default?
No. It is off by default. Users must go to settings or tap the Local tab and give permission for the app to use their location in order to turn it on.
Q: Does TikTok know where I am if I don’t use the feed?
If you have location services turned on on your device, the new terms of service say that TikTok can collect precise location data even if you never use the local feed.
Q: Can anyone see where I live if I use the local feed?
No. People can’t see where you are on the feed. It only changes what’s on the page based on where you are.
Q: Why did TikTok add this feature?
The company says it wants to help people find businesses in their area and support the millions of small businesses that rely on the platform for customers. It also fits with the company’s goal after restructuring to show the US market that it is valuable.
Q: Is this feature available in other parts of the world?
Yes. In late 2025, the UK, France, Italy, and Germany got a version of this feature called “Nearby Feed.”
Conclusion: Instead of recommending videos based on entertainment, the TikTok US local feed feature recommends content based on where you are. In an internet advertising industry that is getting more and more competitive, it helps small businesses stand out.
Users receive video-first local recommendations in place of third-party search apps. But new rules about getting exact location data make it more important to opt in than to change a setting. The company must handle the data it can legally get to make the feature a daily use or privacy flashpoint.
