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TikTok Expands Beyond Video In Bid To Become An Everyday Super App

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 2, 2026

TikTok is expanding beyond short-form video, adding services that bring shopping, travel bookings, restaurant discovery and potentially payments into one platform. Its latest launch, a restaurant guide called Must Eat, is another step towards a broader ambition: becoming an app users turn to for everyday activities, not just entertainment.

The strategy follows the super app model, already established by platforms such as WeChat in China, which combines messaging, payments and commerce. TikTok is now assembling similar services, with its expansion accelerating following its transition to new, primarily US ownership in January, according to TechCrunch.

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Restaurant Guides Turn Viral Content Into Local Search

TikTok has become a popular source of restaurant recommendations, with viral videos often directing customers to local businesses. Its new Must Eat feature builds on that behaviour by using more than 40 million posts and comments to create searchable restaurant guides.

Users can browse recommendations by city and filter results by cuisine, price, rating and location. The feature brings TikTok closer to services such as Yelp and Google Maps, while making it easier to act on recommendations without leaving the app.

Payments Could Expand TikTok’s Commercial Reach

TikTok is also exploring ways to bring financial transactions into its platform. In August, Bloomberg reported that the company was developing a feature allowing users to send money through direct messages, potentially using TikTok Pay.

Its ambitions extend beyond peer-to-peer transfers. In March, Reuters reported that TikTok had applied for approval to offer lending and payment services in Brazil.

Integrating payments could shorten the path from discovering a product or service to purchasing it, while creating additional revenue opportunities.

Sports And Travel Keep Users Within The App

TikTok is extending its role in sports through dedicated content hubs, including its FIFA World Cup hub, which offers scores, schedules, standings, highlights and videos. Partnerships with Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball provide additional access to behind-the-scenes content.

Travel is another area of expansion. Through TikTok GO, launched in the US in May, users can discover and book hotels, attractions and experiences directly through videos, search and location pages.

Both initiatives follow the same principle: turn content discovery into an opportunity to engage, book or purchase without switching platforms.

TikTok Shop Shows The Potential Of In-App Commerce

TikTok Shop provides the clearest example of this strategy. Launched in the US in 2023, it has become a competitor to marketplaces such as Amazon and Shein.

According to eMarketer, US sales through TikTok Shop increased by 407% in 2024 and 108% in 2025, reaching $15.82 billion. Its share of US social commerce stood at 18.2% in 2025 and is projected to reach 24.1% by 2027.

The company has expanded beyond low-cost products, introducing digital gift cards and moving into luxury retail. Its approach offers a model for other services: use content to generate interest and make the next step available within the app.

Music, Search And Entertainment Broaden The Offer

TikTok has also developed its local search tools, combining maps, reviews, location pages and practical information such as opening hours and price ranges. These features build on users’ existing habit of searching the platform for recommendations about restaurants, shops and destinations.

In music, the company has shifted from trying to build its own streaming service to partnerships with established providers. After shutting down TikTok Music in 2024, it introduced a feature allowing Apple Music subscribers to play full songs after discovering them on TikTok.

The platform is also expanding into scripted entertainment and gaming. Its microdrama app PineDrama offers short episodes, while in-app games give users more ways to interact with friends through direct messages.

Can TikTok Become An Everyday Super App?

TikTok’s expansion now covers categories traditionally served by separate platforms, from local search and travel bookings to shopping, payments and entertainment. The appeal is convenience: users can discover a restaurant, plan a trip or find a product and take action without leaving the app.

However, bringing multiple services together does not guarantee success. TikTok will need to build trust in financial transactions, deliver reliable experiences across different categories and convince users that its services can compete with specialised alternatives.

TikTok Shop has already demonstrated its ability to turn attention into sales. The next challenge is extending that model to more everyday activities without losing the entertainment experience that made the platform successful.

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Cyta Plans €70 Million Investment Budget For 2027, Including Renewable Energy Expansion

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 2, 2026

Cyprus telecommunications provider Cyta has budgeted €70 million for investments in 2027, with funding earmarked for a new data center and an initial move into renewable energy. The investment budget is 75% higher than the €40 million allocated for 2026.

According to an explanatory note accompanying the budget submitted to Parliament, the funds will support subsidiaries responsible for delivering two major projects. The budget does not specify how much will go toward each project.

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A New Data Center And A Renewable Energy Business

The first project is a new data center, which Cyta expects to complete over two years. The organization says the facility will serve its customers, Cyprus-based businesses, government and other public-sector bodies, as well as customers abroad.

The second project involves renewable energy. Cyta plans to enter the energy market commercially, including by meeting the power needs of its new data center. The budget provides no further details about the scale or structure of the energy investment.

Parliament cleared the way for Cyta to operate in the energy sector last March, approving legislation that allows the organization to participate through renewable energy sources. An amendment passed by a majority bars it from investing in conventional fuels. The move was opposed by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, or EAC.

Cyta has said it intends to focus on consumers who cannot readily access renewable energy themselves. Its target groups include young couples renting homes, apartment residents and small businesses that lack suitable space to install their own solar panels.

Pension Fund Deficit Continues To Grow

The budget also highlights a widening actuarial deficit in Cyta’s employee pension scheme. A recent actuarial study put the funding shortfall at €211.56 million as of December 31, 2025, up from €140.07 million a year earlier and €85.59 million at the end of 2023.

In response, Cyta’s board increased the annual contribution rate to 4.6%, from 3.9%, and approved a schedule of payments intended to clear the deficit over eight years. The organization will pay €30 million this year, followed by €23 million in 2027 and €25 million in 2028.

From 2029 through 2032, annual payments are set at €33.391 million. A final payment of €29.54 million is scheduled for 2033.

Revenue And Surplus Forecast To Rise

Cyta’s 2027 budget forecasts a pre-tax surplus of €40.09 million and a post-tax surplus of €34.92 million. The projected pre-tax surplus is 14.85% higher than in 2026, an increase of €5.2 million.

Revenue is forecast to reach €478.48 million in 2027, up 6.2% from €450.57 million in 2026. Budgeted expenses are €438.39 million, compared with €415.67 million this year.