- TikTok’s Out of Phone program now delivers video content outside the app through four new partnerships: Curb taxis, Westfield malls, Rockbot’s venue screens, and Hope Hydration’s HydroStations™.
- The Curb integration turns taxi rides into discovery moments, reaching millions of passengers with full‑screen, sound-on TikTok clips.
- In Westfield malls, TikTok content appears on upscale retail screens, linking social trends directly to in‑store purchasing behavior.
- Rockbot’s arrangement brings TikTok videos to tens of thousands of screens in gyms, cafes, airports, and other consumer‑centric locations.
- Hope Hydration’s free water stations now double as media touchpoints, blending sustainability with entertainment in high‑footfall areas.
New partnerships put TikTok content in taxis, shopping centers, fitness spots, and hydration stations.
When TikTok first set out to redefine digital outreach, its focus was squarely on the small screens in users’ palms. Yet, as its influence grew, the platform recognized an opportunity to make its signature short‑form videos part of the physical world.
Now, with its latest wave of Out‑of‑Phone partnerships, TikTok is weaving its community‑driven entertainment into everyday moments, from taxi rides and mall strolls to workout breaks and water refills.
A New Chapter for Taxi TV
In bustling urban centers, the ride from one point to another can become an idle stretch of time. TikTok’s collaboration with Curb transforms that downtime into an unexpected discovery session.
Screens embedded in taxis will soon feature the same creator‑led clips that fill our For You feeds, complete with sound to bring the content alive. Rather than reaching for a phone, passengers will encounter a curated selection of trends, tips, and comedic sketches woven seamlessly into their journey.
Brands see this as a premium moment of undivided attention, while creators gain an unfiltered channel to showcase their work to an audience otherwise untethered from mobile browsing.
Retail Journeys Reimagined
Stepping into a shopping center often triggers a familiar ritual: window‑shop, compare deals, and maybe share a snap of a promising find. By placing TikTok’s dynamic videos within the corridors of Westfield Malls, the platform injects a fresh burst of content directly into the consumer’s path.
Whether it’s a beauty hack demonstration or a style‑inspo clip that arrives just as someone pauses in front of a department store, TikTok’s presence blurs the line between social discovery and in‑store decision‑making. It’s a subtle nudge to go from “I saw it on TikTok” to “I’m buying it now,” bringing viral moments off screens and onto shelves.
Everywhere You Turn, There’s TikTok
The partnership with Rockbot extends TikTok’s reach into spaces where people linger without their phones at the ready. Gyms, coffee shops, airports, even the local boutique—each location becomes a node in a network of shared entertainment.
As a playlist might run in the background, so too will a curated scroll of TikTok creators demonstrating recipes, offering life hacks, or showcasing dance challenges. Rather than interrupting a workout or pre‑flight routine, these clips become part of the ambient experience, sparking recognition and engagement without the usual touch‑and‑swipe mechanics.
Hydration Meets Entertainment
Perhaps the most unexpected venue for TikTok content is the HydroStation™—the sleek refill kiosks that dispense chilled water in high‑traffic locales like city squares and festival grounds. By partnering with Hope Hydration, TikTok places its vibrant visuals atop the very devices that encourage sustainable habits.
@hopehydration Bringing free water to the world (and trying to figure out how to use Tik Tok 🤣) Follow along as we continue to do both!!!
In a stroke of marketing ingenuity, a moment as mundane as topping up a water bottle is transformed into a branded encounter. As festivalgoers line up to hydrate, short bursts of content reinforce TikTok’s cultural relevance, marrying environmental consciousness with the platform’s signature creativity.
Why Off‑Phone Matters
Extending TikTok into these varied environments isn’t just about novelty; it reflects a deeper shift in how people consume media. As screen fatigue sets in and users seek balance between online and offline life, placing content in physical spaces captures attention at moments when smartphones might be stowed away.
For marketers, these real‑world integrations offer a fresh channel to drive brand messages and creator awareness. For TikTok, it cements its role as more than an app—it becomes a ubiquitous presence woven into daily routines.
Crafting Context‑Aware Connections
Each new Out‑of‑Phone partnership is tailored to its setting. Taxi TV audiences are primed for bite‑sized entertainment that alleviates the tedium of traffic. Mall visitors are in a discovery mindset, open to trend‑spotting and impulse decisions.
Fitness enthusiasts appreciate quick motivational or how‑to segments, while hydration station users benefit from lighthearted content as they refuel. By aligning content type with context, TikTok ensures that these off‑phone placements feel less like advertisements and more like natural extensions of user interests.
The Road Ahead
With these four marquee alliances, TikTok has only just charted the first miles of its off‑phone journey. The program builds upon earlier integrations—from billboard takeovers to in‑store screens—expanding both the quantity and quality of real‑world touchpoints.
As the Out‑of‑Phone network grows, TikTok will no doubt continue to seek out environments where its unique format can thrive: transit hubs, stadiums, even healthcare waiting rooms. The goal remains the same: to surprise, delight, and engage audiences wherever they are, merging the spontaneity of social discovery with the tangibility of physical space.
In embracing this hybrid model, TikTok acknowledges that the future of media is not confined to device screens alone. By embedding its cultural currency into the fabric of daily life, it redefines what it means to “go viral,” proving that the next big trend could be waiting at your nearest taxi stand, shopping center, gym, or water fountain.
