Payday for TikTok stars

TikTok will start letting some popular accounts at the video-snippet streaming star charge subscriptions for live streams.

Similar money-making tools have been added to rivals such as Instagram and Facebook as the social media platforms compete for online personalities that attract audiences.

"LIVE Subscription is an extension of our efforts to build diversified creator monetization opportunities that suit a range of creator needs," said TikTok, a subsidiary of tech firm ByteDance.

The subscription feature being introduced this week will only be available to creators by invitation for now but will be expanded globally in coming months.

The company did not disclose pricing.

Creators will be able to switch into a chat mode exclusive to subscribers, "enhancing an even more personal connection between creator and viewer," the company said.

To access the LIVE Subscription feature, creators will need to be at least 18, while users will have to be at least the same age to subscribe.