INSIDER
TikTok let through disinformation in political ads despite its own ban, Global Witness finds
Read full article: TikTok let through disinformation in political ads despite its own ban, Global Witness findsJust weeks before the U.S. presidential election, TikTok still approved advertisements that contained election disinformation even though it has a ban on political ads.
Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigation
Read full article: Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigationGoogle, Meta and TikTok have removed social media accounts belonging to an industrial plant in Russia’s Tatarstan region aimed at recruiting young foreign women to make drones for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
TikTok was aware of risks kids and teens face on its platform, legal document alleges
Read full article: TikTok was aware of risks kids and teens face on its platform, legal document allegesTikTok has been aware that its design features are detrimental to its young users and that publicly touted tools aimed at limiting kids’ time on the site were largely ineffective.
Live from the DNC, it could be one of your favorite online influencers
Read full article: Live from the DNC, it could be one of your favorite online influencersAcross this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, more than 200 online influencers, streamers and other social media personalities have been capturing and livestreaming their impressions of what’s happening.
Nepal lifts its ban on TikTok imposed for disrupting social harmony
Read full article: Nepal lifts its ban on TikTok imposed for disrupting social harmonyNepal’s new government has lifted restrictions on the video-sharing app TikTok, nine months after imposing a ban because it was disrupting “social harmony."
Edible or not? Alicia Silverstone's misstep shows how toxic lookalikes can fool you
Read full article: Edible or not? Alicia Silverstone's misstep shows how toxic lookalikes can fool youAlicia Silverstone worried fans this week when she posted a TikTok clip of herself nibbling a poisonous berry she found while walking on a sidewalk.
TikTok agrees to withdraw rewards feature after EU raised concerns about potential online addiction
Read full article: TikTok agrees to withdraw rewards feature after EU raised concerns about potential online addictionOfficials from the European Union’s executive commission said Monday that TikTok has agreed to end a rewards feature that raised concerns about encouraging excessive screen time and its effects on children.
IBS and digestive trouble are in the spotlight on social media. Here's what you should know
Read full article: IBS and digestive trouble are in the spotlight on social media. Here's what you should knowSpend some time on TikTok and you'll see loads of people talking about digestive troubles like irritable bowel syndrome.
Justice Department sues TikTok, accusing the company of illegally collecting children's data
Read full article: Justice Department sues TikTok, accusing the company of illegally collecting children's dataThe Justice Department sued TikTok on Friday, accusing the company of violating children’s online privacy law and running afoul of a settlement it had reached with another federal agency.
Justice Department says TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun control
Read full article: Justice Department says TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun controlIn a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department has accused TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion.
European Union court says TikTok owner can't avoid bloc's law cracking down on digital giants
Read full article: European Union court says TikTok owner can't avoid bloc's law cracking down on digital giantsTikTok owner ByteDance can’t avoid the bloc’s crackdown on digital giants, a European Union court says.
Barstool owner rescued by Coast Guard after losing control of boat off Nantucket
Read full article: Barstool owner rescued by Coast Guard after losing control of boat off NantucketThe owner and founder of the website Barstool Sports lost control of a boat off Nantucket before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.
From 'latte makeup' to 'girl dinners,' TikTok has launched tons of trends. Will its influence last?
Read full article: From 'latte makeup' to 'girl dinners,' TikTok has launched tons of trends. Will its influence last?TikTok and its bite-sized videos arrived in the United States as a global version of the Chinese app Douyin.
Racial justice, free speech groups join fight against potential TikTok ban
Read full article: Racial justice, free speech groups join fight against potential TikTok banA dozen social and racial justice groups said Thursday that the federal law requiring TikTok’s parent company to sell the platform, or face a ban, would disrupt a vehicle that many minority communities use to form connections online and advocate for causes.
TikTok accuses federal agency of 'political demagoguery' in legal challenge against potential US ban
Read full article: TikTok accuses federal agency of 'political demagoguery' in legal challenge against potential US banTikTok on Thursday disclosed a letter the company sent to the government in April accusing the federal agency that once held the platform’s future in its hands of “political demagoguery.”.
Federal Trade Commission refers complaint about TikTok's adherence to child privacy law to the DOJ
Read full article: Federal Trade Commission refers complaint about TikTok's adherence to child privacy law to the DOJThe Federal Trade Commission has referred a complaint against TikTok and its Beijing-based parent company to the Department of Justice.
Spain proposes law to improve online safety for children, including virtual restraining orders
Read full article: Spain proposes law to improve online safety for children, including virtual restraining ordersSpain’s government has proposed a law to protect children from online threats that includes virtual restraining orders for felons and a higher age for opening social media accounts.
Frank McCourt, the billionaire bidding to buy U.S. part of TikTok, wants users to control their data
Read full article: Frank McCourt, the billionaire bidding to buy U.S. part of TikTok, wants users to control their dataMcCourt said tech companies have to become more democratic in a conversation with The Texas Tribune’s CEO.
TikTok rolls out new rules to limit the reach of state-affiliated media accounts on its platform
Read full article: TikTok rolls out new rules to limit the reach of state-affiliated media accounts on its platformTikTok said Thursday its putting in place new rules to limit the reach of state-affiliated media accounts.
Billionaire Frank McCourt says he's putting together a consortium to buy TikTok
Read full article: Billionaire Frank McCourt says he's putting together a consortium to buy TikTokBillionaire businessman and real estate mogul Frank McCourt says he’s putting together a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business.
TikTok content creators sue the US government over law that could ban the popular platform
Read full article: TikTok content creators sue the US government over law that could ban the popular platformEight TikTok content creators have sued the U.S. over the new federal law that would could ban the social media platform nationwide.
TikTok to start labeling AI-generated content as technology becomes more universal
Read full article: TikTok to start labeling AI-generated content as technology becomes more universalTikTok says it’s going to start automatically labeling content that’s made by artificial intelligence when it’s uploaded from certain platforms.
TikTok sues US to block law that could ban the social media platform
Read full article: TikTok sues US to block law that could ban the social media platformTikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, are suing the U.S. government over a law that would ban the popular video-sharing app unless it’s sold to an approved buyer.
Russian state media is posting more on TikTok ahead of the U.S. presidential election, study says
Read full article: Russian state media is posting more on TikTok ahead of the U.S. presidential election, study saysA study by the nonprofit Brookings Institution says Russian state-affiliated accounts have boosted their use of TikTok and are getting more engagement on the short-form video platform ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
Artists from Universal Music Group are heading back to TikTok as new licensing deal reached
Read full article: Artists from Universal Music Group are heading back to TikTok as new licensing deal reachedArtists from Universal Music Group, which include Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, will be returning to TikTok as the two parties have struck a new licensing agreement following an approximately three-month long dispute.
How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat
Read full article: How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threatIf it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time.
Instagram, YouTube the biggest likely winners of TikTok ban but smaller rivals could rise too
Read full article: Instagram, YouTube the biggest likely winners of TikTok ban but smaller rivals could rise tooWhile a bill to ban TikTok if it doesn't change owners has received President Joe Biden's signature, it could still be years before the popular video-sharing app is actually blocked from U.S. app stores — if it is blocked at all.
The TikTok law kicks off a new showdown between Beijing and Washington. What's coming next?
Read full article: The TikTok law kicks off a new showdown between Beijing and Washington. What's coming next?TikTok is gearing up for a legal fight against a U.S. law that would force the social media platform to break ties with its China-based parent company or face a ban.
TikTok has sued the US over a law that could ban its app. What's the legal outlook?
Read full article: TikTok has sued the US over a law that could ban its app. What's the legal outlook?Legislation forcing TikTok’s parent company to sell the video-sharing platform or face a ban in the U.S. has received President Joe Biden’s official signoff.
Biden just signed a bill that could ban TikTok. His campaign plans to stay on the app anyway
Read full article: Biden just signed a bill that could ban TikTok. His campaign plans to stay on the app anywayPresident Joe Biden’s signing of legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. runs counter to his campaign’s embrace of the platform and outreach to influencers.
TikTok bows to European pressure and halts reward feature on new app in France and Spain
Read full article: TikTok bows to European pressure and halts reward feature on new app in France and SpainTikTok is halting a feature on its new app rewarding users in Europe for watching videos, after facing pressure from regulators worried about its addictive features.
TikTok may be banned in the US. Here's what happened when India did it
Read full article: TikTok may be banned in the US. Here's what happened when India did itThe hugely popular Chinese app TikTok may be forced out of the U.S., where a measure to outlaw the video-sharing app has won congressional approval and is on its way to President Biden for his signature.
What a TikTok ban in the US could mean for you
Read full article: What a TikTok ban in the US could mean for youAfter years of attempts to ban the Chinese-owned app, including by former President Donald Trump, a measure to outlaw the popular video-sharing app has won congressional approval and is on its way to President Biden for his signature.
The EU ratchets up pressure on TikTok's new rewards app over risks to kids, warns of suspension
Read full article: The EU ratchets up pressure on TikTok's new rewards app over risks to kids, warns of suspensionThe European Union is demanding TikTok provide more information about a new app that pays users to watch videos and warned that it could order the video sharing platform to suspend addictive features that pose a risk to kids.
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred voted for TikTok ban despite continuing to use the app
Read full article: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred voted for TikTok ban despite continuing to use the appAllred is the delegation’s most prolific user of the app. He said he voted for the legislation because of national security concerns.
Georgia joins states seeking parental permission before children join social media
Read full article: Georgia joins states seeking parental permission before children join social mediaGeorgia could join other states in requiring children younger than 16 to have their parents’ explicit permission to create social media accounts.
TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit
Read full article: TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuitA person familiar with the matter says the Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices.
Europe asks Google, Facebook, TikTok and other platforms how they're reducing generative AI risks
Read full article: Europe asks Google, Facebook, TikTok and other platforms how they're reducing generative AI risksEuropean Union regulators are ratcheting up scrutiny of big tech companies including Google, Facebook and TikTok by looking into how they’re dealing with risks from generative artificial intelligence, such as the viral spread of deepfakes.
Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he's putting together investor group to buy TikTok
Read full article: Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he's putting together investor group to buy TikTokFormer Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he’s going to put together an investor group to buy TikTok after the House passed a bill that would ban the popular video app in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake.
US lawmakers say TikTok won't be banned if it finds a new owner. But that's easier said than done
Read full article: US lawmakers say TikTok won't be banned if it finds a new owner. But that's easier said than doneU.S. lawmakers are threatening to ban TikTok but also say they are giving its Chinese parent company a chance to keep it running.
House Republicans move ahead with TikTok vote even as Trump voices opposition to possible ban
Read full article: House Republicans move ahead with TikTok vote even as Trump voices opposition to possible banHouse Republicans are moving ahead with a bill that would require Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban in the United States even as former President Donald Trump is voicing opposition to the effort.
Biden says he'll sign proposed legislation to ban TikTok if Congress passes it
Read full article: Biden says he'll sign proposed legislation to ban TikTok if Congress passes itPresident Joe Biden has endorsed legislation that could lead to the popular video-sharing app TikTok being banned in the United States, a move that comes amid growing concern in Washington about keeping Americans' private data out of China’s hands.
A bill that could ban TikTok advances to the Senate. What’s next?
Read full article: A bill that could ban TikTok advances to the Senate. What’s next?The House has approved legislation that would ban TikTok if its Beijing-based parent company doesn’t divest from the popular social media platform, escalating the fight over the hot-button issue.
Bill that could make TikTok unavailable in the US advances quickly in the House
Read full article: Bill that could make TikTok unavailable in the US advances quickly in the HouseA bill that could lead to the popular video-sharing app TikTok being unavailable in the United States is quickly gaining traction in the House.
TikTok faces European Union scrutiny for possible breaches of strict new digital rulebook
Read full article: TikTok faces European Union scrutiny for possible breaches of strict new digital rulebookThe European Union is looking into whether TikTok has broken the bloc’s strict new digital rules for cleaning up social media and keeping internet users safe.
Americans divided on TikTok ban even as Biden campaign joins the app, AP-NORC poll shows
Read full article: Americans divided on TikTok ban even as Biden campaign joins the app, AP-NORC poll showsPresident Joe Biden’s campaign is embracing TikTok to court younger voters ahead of the presidential elections, but U.S. adults have mixed views about whether the video-sharing app should even operate in the country.
Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and others may vanish from TikTok as licensing dispute boils over
Read full article: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and others may vanish from TikTok as licensing dispute boils overUniversal Music Group, which represents artists including Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish, says that it will no longer allow its music on TikTok now that a licensing deal between the two parties has expired.
TikTok is laying off dozens of workers as the tech industry continues to shed jobs in the new year
Read full article: TikTok is laying off dozens of workers as the tech industry continues to shed jobs in the new yearTikTok is laying off dozens of workers in its advertising and sales unit, becoming the latest tech company to trim jobs in the new year.
Iowa is the latest state to sue TikTok, claims the social media company misrepresents its content
Read full article: Iowa is the latest state to sue TikTok, claims the social media company misrepresents its contentIowa has become the latest state to sue TikTok over claims that the social media company deceives consumers over the amount of “inappropriate content” that children have access to via the platform.
A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media
Read full article: A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social mediaA federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps.
A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social media
Read full article: A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social mediaA trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies has sued Ohio over a pending law that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps.
Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study finds
Read full article: Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study findsA study from Harvard says social media companies collectively made over $11 billion in U.S. advertising revenue from minors last year.
A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Utah over strict new limits on app use for minors
Read full article: A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Utah over strict new limits on app use for minorsA trade group that represents TikTok and other major tech companies has sued Utah over its first-in-the-nation laws requiring children to get parental consent to use social media apps.
Southwest Airlines policy offers up to two free seats for plus-size travelers
Read full article: Southwest Airlines policy offers up to two free seats for plus-size travelersSouthwest Airlines’s “customers of size” policy is getting attention this week thanks to a TikTok video that explains how plus-size travelers can obtain an extra seat for free.
Pew survey: YouTube tops teens' social-media diet, with roughly a sixth using it almost constantly
Read full article: Pew survey: YouTube tops teens' social-media diet, with roughly a sixth using it almost constantlyTeen usage of social media hasn’t dropped much, despite rising concerns about its effects on the mental health of adolescents.
Indiana judge dismisses state's lawsuit against TikTok that alleged child safety, privacy concerns
Read full article: Indiana judge dismisses state's lawsuit against TikTok that alleged child safety, privacy concernsAn Indiana county judge has dismissed a state lawsuit filed against TikTok that had accused the app of deceiving its users about the level of inappropriate content for children on its platform and the security of consumers’ personal information.
TikTok and Meta challenge Europe's new rules that crack down on digital giants
Read full article: TikTok and Meta challenge Europe's new rules that crack down on digital giantsTikTok and Meta are filing legal challenges against new European Union rules designed to counter the dominance of digital giants and make online competition fairer by giving consumers more choice.
Hyundai to hold software-upgrade clinics across the US for vehicles targeted by thieves
Read full article: Hyundai to hold software-upgrade clinics across the US for vehicles targeted by thievesHyundai says it will set up “mobile clinics” at five U.S. locations to provide anti-theft software upgrades for vehicles now regularly targeted by thieves using a technique popularized on TikTok and other social platforms.
EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas war
Read full article: EU demands Meta and TikTok detail efforts to curb disinformation from Israel-Hamas warThe European Union has demanded Meta and TikTok detail their efforts to curb illegal content and disinformation during the Israel-Hamas war.
TikTok and content creators challenging Montana's ban face off with the state in federal court
Read full article: TikTok and content creators challenging Montana's ban face off with the state in federal courtTikTok and Montana faced off in federal court in a case filed by the video sharing app and five content creators who want the court to temporarily block the state's ban on the platform before it takes effect on Jan. 1.
TikTok ends retail business in Indonesia after ban on social media shopping
Read full article: TikTok ends retail business in Indonesia after ban on social media shoppingChinese-owned video platform TikTok says it will halt its online retail operation in Indonesia to comply with the country’s decision to ban e-commerce transactions on social media platforms.
TikTok videos promoting steroid use have millions of views, says report criticized by the company
Read full article: TikTok videos promoting steroid use have millions of views, says report criticized by the companyTikTok has become a key marketing channel for vendors promoting steroids and other bodybuilding drugs to millions of the app’s users, according to a report released Thursday that the social media company disputes.
TikTok says it regrets Indonesia's decision to ban e-commerce sales on social media platforms
Read full article: TikTok says it regrets Indonesia's decision to ban e-commerce sales on social media platformsChinese-owned app TikTok says it regrets the Indonesian government’s decision to ban e-commerce transactions on social media platforms and particularly the impact it would have on the millions of sellers who use TikTok Shop.
TikTok Shop launches in the U.S. as the company bets big on e-commerce
Read full article: TikTok Shop launches in the U.S. as the company bets big on e-commerceAfter months of testing, TikTok is fully launching its e-commerce product in the U.S., in an effort to translate the app’s cultural relevance among young consumers to sales.
‘TikTok brain’ explained, and what parents can do about it
Read full article: ‘TikTok brain’ explained, and what parents can do about itSome experts in medicine and education are using the term “TikTok brain” to describe a situation where children consume so much 15-second entertainment that they cannot focus on long-form communication.
Georgia kids would need parental permission to join social media if Senate Republicans get their way
Read full article: Georgia kids would need parental permission to join social media if Senate Republicans get their wayChildren in Georgia would need their parents' permission to create social media accounts if some top Republicans in the state get their way next year.
Australian Senate committee recommends government ban on TikTok be extended to WeChat
Read full article: Australian Senate committee recommends government ban on TikTok be extended to WeChatAn Australian Senate committee has recommended a ban on the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from federal government devices be extended to China’s most popular social media platform, WeChat.
As Twitter fades to X, TikTok steps up with new text-based posts
Read full article: As Twitter fades to X, TikTok steps up with new text-based postsThe same day owner Elon Musk abruptly dropped Twitter's name and bird logo as part of its supposed transition to an “anything app,” TikTok impishly announced it will begin letting its users post — you guessed it — text-based messages.
TikTok needs to do more to comply with Europe's new digital rules, official says
Read full article: TikTok needs to do more to comply with Europe's new digital rules, official saysA top European Union official says TikTok needs to do more to get ready for new digital rules designed to keep users safe online.
First Amendment group sues Texas Governor and others over the state’s TikTok ban on official devices
Read full article: First Amendment group sues Texas Governor and others over the state’s TikTok ban on official devicesA First Amendment group sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott and others on Thursday over the state’s TikTok ban on official devices.
Plastic surgeon who livestreamed procedures on TikTok banned from practicing medicine in Ohio
Read full article: Plastic surgeon who livestreamed procedures on TikTok banned from practicing medicine in OhioAn Ohio plastic surgeon’s state medical license has been permanently revoked after a medical board determined she harmed patients while livestreaming their surgeries on the social media app TikTok.
Community rallies around bullied Texas boy who knocked on neighbor’s door to look for friends
Read full article: Community rallies around bullied Texas boy who knocked on neighbor’s door to look for friendsAn Amarillo boy is sharing a message of kindness after a viral video showed him going door-to-door and asking for friends.
TikTok and 5 content creators ask federal judge to block Montana from banning app
Read full article: TikTok and 5 content creators ask federal judge to block Montana from banning appTikTok and a group of five content creators who are suing the state of Montana over its first-in-the-nation law to ban the video sharing app are now asking a federal judge to block implementation of the law while the case moves through the courts.
McDonald’s Grimace shake takes over TikTok with horror-like, ‘unhinged’ videos
Read full article: McDonald’s Grimace shake takes over TikTok with horror-like, ‘unhinged’ videosMcDonald’s, two-armed sweetheart blob, Grimace celebrated his 52nd birthday with his own meal, including a never before seen purple milkshake that has sparked the interest of millions on TikTok.