How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat
2 months, 1 week ago

How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat

The Hindu  

If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that's probably because it has, at least if you're measuring via internet time. The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok, and the popular short form video service went dark in the U.S. — just hours before the ban was set to begin. U.S. politicians begin to raise alarms about TikTok’s influence, calling for a federal investigations of its Musical.ly acquisition and a national security probe into TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps. FBI Director Christopher Wray raises national security concerns about TikTok, warning that Chinese officials could manipulate the app’s recommendation algorithm for influence operations. TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance sue the U.S. federal government to challenge a law that would force the sale of ByteDance’s stake or face a ban, saying that the law is unconstitutional.

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History of this topic

Only a Great Firewall of America can block Chinese apps like DeepSeek and TikTok now
Trending News
2 months ago

Only a Great Firewall of America can block Chinese apps like DeepSeek and TikTok now

The Independent  

For a few days in mid January, something happened on the internet that had never happened before – at least not on this scale. Some even referred to it as “2025’s Berlin Wall” moment, with RedNote offering US users a peek through the cyber barrier that usually separates the two countries, known as China’s Great Firewall. “DeepSeek’s arrival is a …

TikTok users claim increased restrictions on speech after US revival under Trump order
2 months, 1 week ago

TikTok users claim increased restrictions on speech after US revival under Trump order

Live Mint  

TikTok users in the United States are raising concerns over signs of increased censorship on the platform, following its recent revival under an executive order from former President Donald Trump. Once hailed as a haven for free speech, the app—owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance—appears to be undergoing significant changes, with some users reporting heightened content moderation and restrictions on …

Why was TikTok banned in the US?
Top News
2 months, 1 week ago

Why was TikTok banned in the US?

Hindustan Times  

The TikTok users in the US couldn't access the popular video sharing app late Saturday night due to the ban upheld by the Supreme Court last week. A message welcoming users back and thanking US President-elect Donald Trump on the TikTok app on a smartphone arranged in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Sunday. Here is why TikTok banned in the US …

How TikTok grew from fun app for teens into potential national security threat
2 months, 1 week ago

How TikTok grew from fun app for teens into potential national security threat

Deccan Chronicle  

San Francisco: If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok, and the popular short-form video service went dark in the U.S. — just hours before the ban was set to begin. December 2022 FBI …

Alternative to TikTok? Douyin now open to international users, claim netizens
2 months, 1 week ago

Alternative to TikTok? Douyin now open to international users, claim netizens

Live Mint  

Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, which is limited to domestic users can now be accessed internationally amid the brief ban of the popular social media platform TikTok, according to a few X users. I just tried it myself with a foreign phone number and it's true: you can now join Douyin - the Chinese version of TikTok - as …

How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat
2 months, 1 week ago

How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that’s probably because it has, at least if you’re measuring via internet time. The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning TikTok, and the popular short form video service went dark in the U.S. — just hours before the ban was set to begin. December …

How TikTok became the world’s most controversial app
2 months, 1 week ago

How TikTok became the world’s most controversial app

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. TikTok stopped working in the United States late on Saturday and disappeared from Apple and Google app …

Not just TikTok - Which other ByteDance apps have been banned in the US?
2 months, 1 week ago

Not just TikTok - Which other ByteDance apps have been banned in the US?

Live Mint  

TikTok ban: "A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Several other apps owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, such as Lemon 8, CapCut among others have also been blocked for US based users, reported Wired. TikTok disconnected access to its users in the US late January 18 after no action was taken shortly before a national ban …

What is Lemon8 app? The TikTok alternative gaining popularity that may also face a ban
2 months, 1 week ago

What is Lemon8 app? The TikTok alternative gaining popularity that may also face a ban

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. President-elect Donald Trump has said he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban …

TikTok goes dark in the US as shutdown comes into effect
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok goes dark in the US as shutdown comes into effect

ABC  

Social media app TikTok appears to have gone offline in the United States and is no longer available in app stores ahead of a ban coming into effect. "We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a …

With US ban on TikTok hours away, Trump says he ’most likely’ will grant an extension
2 months, 2 weeks ago

With US ban on TikTok hours away, Trump says he ’most likely’ will grant an extension

Live Mint  

The clock is ticking toward a U.S. ban on TikTok, but users seeking clarity on what that will mean did not get much Saturday from the company that runs the popular video-sharing platform or the tech giants that offer the TikTok app in their digital marketplaces. However, President-elect Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he was …

With a US ban on TikTok hours away, Trump says he ‘most likely’ will grant an extension
2 months, 2 weeks ago

With a US ban on TikTok hours away, Trump says he ‘most likely’ will grant an extension

Associated Press  

The clock is ticking toward a U.S. ban on TikTok, but users seeking clarity on what that will mean did not get much Saturday from the company that runs the popular video-sharing platform or the tech giants that offer the TikTok app in their digital marketplaces. The ban’s timing has complicated matters, perhaps in TikTok’s favor: the outgoing Biden administration …

How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat
2 months, 2 weeks ago

How TikTok grew from a fun app for teens into a potential national security threat

Live Mint  

If it feels like TikTok has been around forever, that's probably because it has, at least if you're measuring via internet time. October 2019 U.S. politicians begin to raise alarms about TikTok's influence, calling for a federal investigations of its Musical.ly acquisition and a national security probe into TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps. December 2022 FBI Director Christopher Wray raises …

The rise — and potential fall — of TikTok in the US
2 months, 2 weeks ago

The rise — and potential fall — of TikTok in the US

Associated Press  

The possibility of the U.S. outlawing TikTok kept influencers and users in anxious limbo during the four-plus years that lawmakers and judges debated the fate of the video-sharing platform. By midday Sunday, TikTok said it was restoring services to users in the United States after President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social he would issue an executive order giving TikTok’s …

TikTok goes dark in the U.S. as ban takes effect
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok goes dark in the U.S. as ban takes effect

LA Times  

TikTok’s app was removed from prominent app stores on Saturday just before a federal law to ban the popular social media platform was scheduled to go into effect. Before that announcement went out, TikTok had said in another message to users that its service would be “temporarily unavailable” and told them it was working to restore its U.S. service “as …

TikTok refugees are pouring to Xiaohongshu. Here’s what you need to know about the RedNote app
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok refugees are pouring to Xiaohongshu. Here’s what you need to know about the RedNote app

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — As the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, also called RedNote – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S. A rare wave of U.S.-China camaraderie broke out online in recent days as “refugees” from the popular short video platform TikTok poured onto a …

TikTok refugees flock to RedNote: Why users should exercise caution, report explains
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok refugees flock to RedNote: Why users should exercise caution, report explains

Live Mint  

The potential ban of TikTok in the United States has sparked a wave of interest in the Chinese social media platform RedNote, known domestically as Xiaohongshu or Little Red Book. As per the publication, many former TikTok users have expressed frustration with platforms like Facebook and Instagram, particularly after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that fact-checking would no longer be …

How TikTok Creators Are Preparing For A Ban On 'A Really Special Platform'
Top News
2 months, 2 weeks ago

How TikTok Creators Are Preparing For A Ban On 'A Really Special Platform'

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Big changes could be coming for TikTok influencers in the next few days. 2020 was a ‘wake-up call.’ Benjamin de Almeida, who is known as @benoftheweek on social media, said the previous efforts to ban TikTok under the Trump administration served as a “wake-up call” for him. thank you @Anthony Po for letting me judge the timothee …

Amid 'ban' on TikTok over data concerns, Americans rush to another Chinese app 'Red Note': What happened
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Amid 'ban' on TikTok over data concerns, Americans rush to another Chinese app 'Red Note': What happened

Op India  

With the imminent ban on TikTok in the United States, users of the video-sharing app in the North American country are migrating to yet another Chinese app named Xiaohongshu. pic.twitter.com/UTxkeQ7Bhy — Han Shawnity 🇺🇸 January 17, 2025 When India banned Chinese apps and the rationale behind the decision In 2024, a leading security expert Tzeng Yi-suo explained, “Information security risks …

What dies with TikTok? As a ban looms, Americans face a cultural void
2 months, 2 weeks ago

What dies with TikTok? As a ban looms, Americans face a cultural void

BBC  

What dies with TikTok? But the possibility of TikTok's demise in the US has led users and creators to contemplate moving to other platforms, whether established ones in the American market like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, or newcomers like Red Note, another Chinese social media platform. "TikTok's algorithm seems to be a lot more generous", says Kay Perron, a …

TikTok ban: Why RedNote is a pretty damn good alternative to TikTok.
55 years, 3 months ago

TikTok ban: Why RedNote is a pretty damn good alternative to TikTok.

Slate  

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. In the wake of TikTok’s looming ban on Sunday, many have decided to show Congress exactly how little they care about the platform’s ties to China by getting even more Chinese and downloading Xiaohongshu. Since Monday, the Chinese social …

China gives a wary welcome to influx of 'TikTok refugees' on RedNote
2 months, 2 weeks ago

China gives a wary welcome to influx of 'TikTok refugees' on RedNote

Hindustan Times  

* China gives a wary welcome to influx of 'TikTok refugees' on RedNote RedNote becomes unexpected U.S.-China exchange platform * Chinese state media supports TikTok users' move to RedNote * But some users and nationalist bloggers criticise US influence By Brenda Goh SHANGHAI, - Users of the Chinese social media app RedNote welcomed "TikTok refugees" from the United States with …

TikTok could be banned in the US: What are the best alternatives?
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok could be banned in the US: What are the best alternatives?

Firstpost  

TikTok owner ByteDance has till January 19 to find a new owner or shut the popular app down in America. It also allows users to make money from their followers via ‘SuperLikes.’ Snapchat Snapchat, launched in 2011 with its infamous disappearing videos, remains popular among teens and younger adults. The platform gained so much traction that Meta designed a similar …

The TikTok ticking time bomb: What happens next?
2 months, 2 weeks ago

The TikTok ticking time bomb: What happens next?

India Today  

As the clock ticks down to a potential TikTok ban in the U.S., the popular video-sharing app finds itself at the center of a political whirlwind. The outgoing Biden administration, which initially signed the law requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the app to an American-owned entity, is now reportedly exploring options to prevent the app from going …

TikTok is set to be banned in the US this weekend. Here's what that actually means
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok is set to be banned in the US this weekend. Here's what that actually means

ABC  

TikTok — one of the biggest entertainment and social media platforms in the world — is due to be blocked in the United States this weekend. However, Mr Barrett says the US government is particularly worried about the social media aspect of TikTok, bringing with it the possibility of disinformation and propaganda campaigns. " Cloud service providers are also held …

Looming TikTok ban causes Americans to name Chinese app RedNote the 'biggest step towards world peace'
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Looming TikTok ban causes Americans to name Chinese app RedNote the 'biggest step towards world peace'

Daily Mail  

It's an unexpected union bought on by the looming TikTok ban thanks to a social media app that doesn't even officially have an English name. With the fate of TikTok up in the air in America, social media users have flocked to another Chinese-owned app called Xiaohongshu - and users are bonding as they adapt to the platform. With the …

US TikTok users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest with TikTok ban looming
2 months, 2 weeks ago

US TikTok users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest with TikTok ban looming

Deccan Chronicle  

Hong Kong: As the threat of a TikTok ban looms, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S. Since Monday, Xiaohongshu has become the top downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store in the U.S. Xiaohongshu, which in English means “Little Red Book” is a Chinese …

U.S. TikTok ban: With possible ban just days away, users flock to other apps; RedNote dominates as top downloaded app
2 months, 2 weeks ago

U.S. TikTok ban: With possible ban just days away, users flock to other apps; RedNote dominates as top downloaded app

The Hindu  

With a possible TikTok ban just days away, many U.S. users are looking for alternative social media platforms to help them keep up with pop culture or provide the type of entertaining videos that popularised the short-form video app. Here are the different alternatives and what to know about them: Recently, some U.S. TikTok users have flocked to the Chinese …

What to know about RedNote, the Chinese app that American TikTokkers are flooding
2 months, 2 weeks ago

What to know about RedNote, the Chinese app that American TikTokkers are flooding

NPR  

What to know about RedNote, the Chinese app that American TikTokkers are flooding toggle caption Andy Wong/AP With the clock ticking on a potential TikTok ban in the U.S., scores of Americans are flocking to a surprising alternative: a popular Chinese social media platform called Xiaohongshu, or RedNote in English. The start of this week saw a dramatic uptick in …

TikTok users in US flock to ‘China’s Instagram’, RedNote, ahead of ban
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok users in US flock to ‘China’s Instagram’, RedNote, ahead of ban

Al Jazeera  

Chinese users of Xiaohongshu welcome influx of Americans, but caution that sensitive topics are off-limits. Taipei, Taiwan – As a TikTok ban looms in the United States, young Americans are flocking to the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu as “TikTok refugees” in search of a similar experience. “It’s definitely funny that American teenagers are protesting the looming TikTok ban by …

A TikTok ban is just days away. A list of other apps available
2 months, 2 weeks ago

A TikTok ban is just days away. A list of other apps available

Associated Press  

With a possible TikTok ban just days away, many U.S. users are looking for alternative social media platforms to help them keep up with pop culture or provide the type of entertaining videos that popularized the short-form video app. Here are the different alternatives and what to know about them: Xiaohongshu, or “RedNote” Recently, some U.S. TikTok users have flocked …

US TikTok users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest with TikTok ban looming
2 months, 2 weeks ago

US TikTok users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu in protest with TikTok ban looming

Associated Press  

HONG KONG — As the threat of a TikTok ban looms, U.S. TikTok users are flocking to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu – making it the top downloaded app in the U.S. Since Monday, Xiaohongshu has become the top downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store in the U.S. Xiaohongshu, which in English means “Little Red Book” is a …

Will Musk now own TikTok? China mulls selling short-video app to Tesla CEO, says report
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Will Musk now own TikTok? China mulls selling short-video app to Tesla CEO, says report

Firstpost  

The Chinese government is considering a plan for Elon Musk to acquire TikTok’s US business to keep the short-video app from being effectively banned in the country Billionaire Elon Musk could possibly get the ownership of the US operation of TikTok, the short-video app that is contesting the impending ban with an appeal to the US Supreme Court. TikTok’s contingency …

‘TikTok refugees’ unexpectedly turn to Chinese alternative as ban looms
2 months, 2 weeks ago

‘TikTok refugees’ unexpectedly turn to Chinese alternative as ban looms

LA Times  

A number of users of the video-sharing app TikTok appear to be turning to an app called RedNote — more commonly known to its majority-Chinese audience by its Chinese name, Xiaohongshu. But by embracing a Chinese social media and lifestyle app similar to Instagram, some U.S. TikTok users say they are protesting what they believe would be an unfair ban …

TikTok users flock to China-based "RedNote" as ban looms
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok users flock to China-based "RedNote" as ban looms

Salon  

An impending ban on TikTok has driven some users to try a new alternative. Users say they found the platform because they were disappointed with other TikTok rivals, including Elon Musk’s X and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, all of which have added short-form video content features in recent years. Another user likened joining to a protest over the ban on …

Here’s what TikTok users are saying about the looming ban
Trending News
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Here’s what TikTok users are saying about the looming ban

CNN  

CNN — TikTok creators and users are facing the reality that the popular short-video app will likely be banned in the United States. I might just put the phone down.” Creators bid farewell The TikTok ban could lead to a loss of income for creators, whose partnerships, monetization and followers aren’t guaranteed if they move to other platforms. “If we …

TikTok faces a survival test in US that began in India
2 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok faces a survival test in US that began in India

Firstpost  

The story of TikTok’s many legal challenges began in India when the country imposed a total ban on the platform in 2020 following New Delhi’s simmering geopolitical tensions with Beijing Will TikTok continue to host thousands of content creators in the US or not is up to the Supreme Court’s hearing on Friday that would either force its Chinese owner …

TikTok ban: Why the ByteDance app might actually get banned from the U.S.
2 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok ban: Why the ByteDance app might actually get banned from the U.S.

Slate  

This article was republished from the Rip Current by Jacob Ward and has been lightly edited for Slate. In fact, as the Supreme Court prepares to take up the question of TikTok’s continued existence in the United States on Friday, around the world the executives of dozens of companies, having read the headlines, are undoubtedly waking up sweating in the …

ByteDance’s Lemon8 gains traction amid TikTok ban threat as creators push the app
2 months, 3 weeks ago

ByteDance’s Lemon8 gains traction amid TikTok ban threat as creators push the app

Associated Press  

Hearing a lot about Lemon8 lately? Amid a looming U.S. ban on TikTok, content creators have been pushing the platform’s sister app. Lemon8’s popularity could potentially soar further depending on the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing Friday over a law requiring TikTok to break ties with ByteDance or face a U.S. ban. TikTok said the integration was designed …

TikTok is pushing users in the US to sister app Lemon8 as it faces potential ban
2 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok is pushing users in the US to sister app Lemon8 as it faces potential ban

Firstpost  

ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, is promoting Lemon8 as a backup option, even as discussions around the TikTok ban intensify. While the legislation specifically targets ByteDance-owned apps, the spotlight remains on TikTok, leaving the fate of Lemon8 relatively under-discussed Although Lemon8 remains significantly smaller than TikTok, with just over one million active daily users, its engagement has steadily grown over …

TikTok users want SCOTUS to think it’s more about dance videos than Chinese international intrigue
Trending News
2 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok users want SCOTUS to think it’s more about dance videos than Chinese international intrigue

CNN  

CNN — TikTok, the popular social media platform celebrated for its frothy mix of dance videos, cat antics, news clips and recipes, will wage a substantial First Amendment battle at the Supreme Court on Friday. “Most of it consists of things like dance videos, home-repair tutorials, and montages of weekend getaways.” More importantly as a matter of First Amendment protection, …

TikTok knew its livestreams exploit children, Utah lawsuit claims
2 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok knew its livestreams exploit children, Utah lawsuit claims

The Hindu  

TikTok has long known its video livestreams encourage sexual conduct and exploit children yet turned a blind eye because it "profited significantly" from them, according to newly unsealed material in a lawsuit by the state of Utah. Utah's original lawsuit accusing TikTok of exploiting children was filed last June by the state's Division of Consumer Protection, with state Attorney General …

What’s behind Donald Trump’s repeated support for TikTok?
3 months, 1 week ago

What’s behind Donald Trump’s repeated support for TikTok?

Firstpost  

US President-elect Donald Trump’s repeated support for TikTok has sparked speculation about potential solutions to prevent the app’s impending ban, though the path forward remains unclear. His repeated support for the wildly popular platform is partly because he believes it would primarily benefit Meta On Sunday, US President-elect Donald Trump indicated that he favoured allowing TikTok to keep operating in …

One billion users, but controversies mount up for TikTok
3 months, 1 week ago

One billion users, but controversies mount up for TikTok

Hindustan Times  

TikTok's breakneck rise from niche video-sharing app to global social media behemoth has drawn intense scrutiny, particularly over its links to China. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said Saturday the government would shut down social network TikTok for at least a year from 2025. The EU is probing whether far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu's surprise victory in the first round …

One billion users, but controversies mount up for TikTok
3 months, 1 week ago

One billion users, but controversies mount up for TikTok

Hindustan Times  

TikTok's breakneck rise from niche video-sharing app to global social media behemoth has drawn intense scrutiny, particularly over its links to China. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said Saturday the government would shut down social network TikTok for at least a year from 2025. The EU is probing whether far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu's surprise victory in the first round …

The 1 Thing You Should Do On TikTok Before A Potential Ban
3 months, 2 weeks ago

The 1 Thing You Should Do On TikTok Before A Potential Ban

Huff Post  

Illustration: Damon Dahlen/HuffPost; Photos: Getty Worried about losing access to your TikToks? Lawmakers behind the TikTok ban said the app’s Chinese owner has national security risks that could allow the Chinese government to gain access to sensitive U.S. data ― an accusation TikTok denies. I’m one of the 170 million Americans who use TikTok every day, and I’ve started downloading …

TikTok files challenge against Canadian government order to dissolve its business in the country
3 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok files challenge against Canadian government order to dissolve its business in the country

Associated Press  

TikTok has challenged a Canadian government order to shut down the Chinese video-sharing app’s business operations in the country that was imposed over national security concerns. The Canadian federal government last month announced it was ordering the dissolution of TikTok Technology Canada Inc. after a national security review of its Chinese parent company ByteDance Ltd. TikTok argues in its court …

Why does the US want to ban TikTok: List of allegations against the app
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Why does the US want to ban TikTok: List of allegations against the app

Hindustan Times  

A US federal appeals court has upheld a law mandating that ByteDance, the Chinese company behind the popular short-video app TikTok, must divest its US operations by early next year or face a potential ban. TikTok has said "an entity affiliated with the Chinese government owns 1% of a ByteDance subsidiary, Douyin Information Service," and says the holding "has no …

TikTok seeking Musk's advice ahead of potential ban in the US, incoming Trump administration
4 months, 1 week ago

TikTok seeking Musk's advice ahead of potential ban in the US, incoming Trump administration

Firstpost  

The US administration, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had been raising alarms that TikTok could be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government. Leadership at TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, a Chinese tech firm, views Musk as a potential intermediary to the incoming administration. TikTok’s troubles in the US The US administration, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had been …

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