TikTok: News
TikTok is an extremely popular video-sharing social networking service headquartered in China. Owned by a Beijing-based internet technology company named ByteDance, the app was founded in 2016 with a mission “to inspire creativity and bring joy.” In 2018, it merged with Shanghai-based social media service, musical.ly, and became available globally. Apart from Beijing, TikTok has offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. TikTok allows one to make music and lip-sync videos lasting some 3 to 15 seconds, and short looping videos of 3 to 60 seconds. The platform is regularly in the news for new features, some of which are new and some of which are imitations of features already implemented by other mainstream social media platforms. In early August of 2021, TikTok confirmed that it is testing a new Stories feature with a small subset of users. The feature is reminiscent of Instagram’s Stories feature which has been around for far longer.
OpenAI's Sora app loses steam after initial success
OpenAI's innovative video generation app, Sora, is witnessing a decline in popularity.
Why some TikTok users cannot write 'Epstein' in messages
TikTok is investigating why some users are unable to send the word "Epstein" in their direct messages.
TikTok blames data center power outage for US app glitches
TikTok has blamed a power outage at a US data center for the recent glitches in its app.
149M passwords leaked! Check if your online accounts are safe
A massive exposure of over 149 million unique usernames and passwords, including those of Instagram, Gmail, and OnlyFans accounts, was discovered.
Substack launches TV app as it pushes video content
Substack, the popular newsletter platform, has launched a dedicated TV app for Apple TV and Google TV.
Trump-backed investors will now run TikTok's US operations
The US and China have finalized a deal that transfers control of TikTok's American operations to a group of investors backed by President Donald Trump.
Andhra weighs Australia-style social media ban for kids under 16
The Andhra Pradesh government is considering a ban on social media for children under 16, similar to Australia's recent legislation.
Netflix is revamping its mobile app: What are the changes?
Netflix is planning to revamp its mobile app in a bid to compete with social media platforms for daily user engagement.
California orders Musk's xAI to stop generating obscene images
The California Attorney General's office has launched an investigation into Elon Musk's xAI.
TikTok launches PineDrama, a dedicated app for microdramas
TikTok has launched a new standalone app called PineDrama in the US and Brazil.
TikTok to launch age-detection tech in Europe amid regulatory pressure
TikTok has announced its plan to roll out a new age-detection technology across Europe in the coming weeks, according to Reuters.
US senators demand answers from tech giants over explicit deepfakes
A group of US senators has written to tech giants Meta, Alphabet, X, Snap, Reddit, and TikTok.
Will AI end the 'traffic era' for news sites?
A recent report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism has revealed that media companies are bracing for a major decline in web traffic over the next three years.
Meta blocks 500,000+ accounts under Australia's under-16 social media ban
Meta has deactivated over half a million accounts across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
Meta urges Australia to rethink its under-16 social media ban
Meta, the tech giant led by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, has called on the Australian government to reconsider its world-first ban on social media accounts for users under 16.
'Toxic mom group' drama heats up: Meghan Trainor reacts
Former child actor Daryl Sabara, the husband of singer Meghan Trainor, has spoken out about the recent controversy surrounding a "toxic mom group."
What is the '365 buttons' meme taking over TikTok?
A mysterious comment by a TikTok user named Tamara has sparked a viral meme on the platform.
FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to be streamed on TikTok
FIFA has announced a partnership with TikTok to broadcast some parts of the upcoming World Cup 2026 matches.
FBI foils 'ISIS-inspired' teen's New Year's Eve attack in US
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced on Friday that it thwarted a potential terrorist attack planned for New Year's Eve in North Carolina.
ByteDance to spend $14B on NVIDIA AI chips in 2026
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is planning to invest around 100 billion yuan ($14 billion) in artificial intelligence (AI) chips from NVIDIA in 2026.
Zoe Saldana calls Neytiri 'racist': 'Avatar' fans are confused
Zoe Saldana, who plays Neytiri in the Avatar films, recently called her character "racist" in an interview with CinemaBlend.
You can now buy digital gift cards on TikTok
TikTok Shop has launched a new feature allowing users to buy digital gift cards.
How Instagram's algorithm is different from TikTok and YouTube
Instagram's head Adam Mosseri has revealed how the platform's algorithm works and how it differs from those of TikTok and YouTube.
ByteDance hikes pay, bonuses to retain talent amid AI race
In a bid to retain and attract global talent, ByteDance has announced an increase in salaries and enhanced incentives for its employees.
Who's Keith Lee? TikTok star wins Creator of the Year
Social media sensation Keith Lee has been named the Creator of the Year at the inaugural US TikTok Awards.
TikTok strikes deal to hand US operations to American investors
TikTok has struck a deal to hand over a major chunk of its US operations to a group of American investors.
ChatGPT crosses $3B in global mobile consumer spending
ChatGPT, the AI-powered chatbot from OpenAI, has crossed a major milestone of $3 billion in global consumer spending on mobile.
'5201314': Why were Indians googling this number in 2025?
Google's Year in Search report for India in 2025 has revealed some surprising trends.
Why kids can't buy latest Pokemon cards anymore
The once-innocent world of Pokemon cards has transformed into a speculative market, making it nearly impossible for kids to get their hands on the latest releases.
Australia's social media ban for under-16s comes into effect
Australia has become the first country to impose a social media ban on children under 16.
TikTok now lets you organize content with your friends
TikTok has launched a new feature called "Shared Collections," allowing users to share and organize content with their friends and family.
Google's Doppl AI app lets you try out, buy clothes
Google has announced the launch of a shoppable discovery feed in Doppl, its experimental artificial intelligence (AI) fashion app.
TikTok parent launches AI voice assistant for Chinese phones
Chinese tech giant ByteDance has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) voice control tool, which will first be integrated into a smartphone from ZTE Corp.
Gemini can now tell if an image is AI-generated
Google has added a new feature to the Gemini app that helps users identify AI-generated content.
TikTok now gives you badges to limit your mindless scrolling
TikTok is introducing new features to promote digital well-being among its users.
Taiwan releases handbook on prepping for natural disasters, Chinese invasion
Taiwan's Defense Ministry will begin distributing a survival handbook to its 23 million residents this week.
TikTok now lets you regulate AI content on your feed
TikTok is testing a new feature that will let users control the amount of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content they see in their feeds.
Florida: 21-year-old TikTok star shot dead by boyfriend
Maurice Harrison, a popular TikTok star known as the "wig influencer," was shot and killed by her longtime boyfriend in Florida last week.
TikTok's latest feature takes on broadcast channels by Instagram
TikTok has launched a new feature called "Bulletin Board," allowing brands and creators to share public messages with their followers.
Japan: As bear attacks surge, AI videos spark more fear
Japan is witnessing a spate of bear attacks, with 13 fatalities reported this year alone.
TikTok to host first-ever US awards show on this date
TikTok has announced its first-ever awards show in the United States. The event, simply named the "TikTok Awards," will be held on December 18 at 9pm ET.
China approves TikTok transfer deal after Trump-Xi meeting
China has approved the transfer agreement for popular short video app TikTok, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Thursday.
Meta, TikTok to comply with Australia's under-16 social media ban
Tech giants Meta and TikTok have agreed to comply with Australia's new law banning social media platforms from allowing users under the age of 16.
Trump, Xi to sign TikTok US deal on Thursday
The US and China have finalized a deal to transfer the American version of TikTok to new owners.
You can now watch previously viewed Reels on Instagram
Instagram has introduced a new feature called "Watch History," allowing users to revisit previously viewed Reels.
Instagram considers bringing reels to your TV
Instagram is considering the development of a dedicated TV app, as part of its larger strategy to expand into video content.
Facebook now shows you Reels based on your preferences
Meta has announced a major update to its Facebook algorithm, aimed at giving users more control over the Reels they see.
OpenAI enhances developer tools with GPT-5 Pro and Sora models
OpenAI has announced a series of new API updates at its Dev Day event. The highlights include the launch of GPT-5 Pro, the company's latest language model, and Sora 2, an advanced video generation model.
TikTok pushed explicit content to child accounts despite safety settings
A recent report from Global Witness, a human rights campaign group, has revealed that TikTok's algorithm is recommending pornographic and highly sexualized content to child accounts.
OpenAI's TikTok-like app for AI-generated videos is coming soon
OpenAI is gearing up to launch a dedicated app for its video generation AI model, Sora 2.
Trump's TikTok US deal finalized: Here's who owns what
President Donald Trump has confirmed that a deal to sell TikTok's US operations is complete, with approval from China's President Xi Jinping.
Trump approves $14B deal to keep TikTok alive in US
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving the sale of TikTok's US operations to a group of American investors.
Meta launches Vibes as a TikTok-style feed of AI videos
Meta has launched a new feature called "Vibes," a dedicated feed within the Meta AI app and on meta.ai.