TOPIC

/ company

TikTok

Latest news and updates on TikTok, the globally popular social media platform. The app, which merged with Musical.ly in 2018, lets users create short videos under a minute long complete with visual effects and background music. It has since come under scrutiny in countries like the US and India because it is owned by a Chinese company. Critics have accused the app of posing a national security risk, a claim that TikTok has repeatedly denied. Known as Douyin in China, the app is owned by Beijing-based startup ByteDance, also behind the Chinese news aggregator Jinri Toutiao.

Chairman / President

Zhang Yiming

CEO / Managing Director

Shou Zi Chew

CFO / Finance Director

Julie Gao

Industry

Social Media

Website

tiktok.com

Headquarters address

Culver City, 5800 Bristol Pkwy, United States

Year founded

2016

Britain

My Take | Putting the social media genie back in the bottle will not be easy to do

The determination around the world to crack down on the use of these platforms by children is a response to the mounting evidence of the harm it can do.

27 Jun 2026 - 10:45PM

Australia

Australia PM: ‘too many children on social media’, ban too easy to avoid

27 Jun 2026 - 9:21PMvideocam

US-China relations

Opinion | The West must reckon with the reality of China’s rise

17 Jun 2026 - 10:44PM

Britain

UK bans under 16s from social media apps including TikTok, YouTube

The move makes the UK part of a growing global movement to tighten online safety for children.

15 Jun 2026 - 6:48PM

Students from Ricards Lodge and Rutlish High Schools in Wimbledon, the UK, look at their mobile phones during an interview and discussion about their thoughts on a social media ban for under 16s. Photo: Reuters

China economy

Opinion | Why Shein’s French fines are a warning to Chinese firms going global

Chinese firms going global can’t just enter foreign markets – they must also work to earn the trust required to stay there.

14 Jun 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore orders social media platforms to block anti-Indian posts

Investigations reveal that the divisive posts likely originated from a China-based platform, minister says.

6 Jun 2026 - 4:15PM

Icons and Influencers

‘Spray 100 times’: inside TikTok’s wild new world of men’s fragrance

From OverSpray Jay’s 100-spritz rule to the rise of dupes, a new generation of obsessive male shoppers is reshaping a multibillion-dollar industry.

4 Jun 2026 - 10:00AM

TikTok has been experiencing a far faster growth in male fragrance influencers compared with female ones. Photo: May Tse

Malaysia

Malaysia bars under-16s from social media as new rules come into force

Malaysia’s roll-out of strict age-gating rules follows on the heels of Australia and Indonesia in the push to protect children online.

1 Jun 2026 - 10:32AMvideocam

Profile

Micro-drama platform V+Short founders talk content trends and production powerhouses

Angela and Clarissa Tanoesoedibjo, the forces behind newly launched micro drama platform V+Short, on having their fingers on the pulse of viewing trends and positioning the Global South as production hubs.

28 May 2026 - 8:00AM

ByteDance

ByteDance AI films shake up Cannes as TikTok owner challenges Hollywood norms

A new cinematic tool, Seedance 2.0, can generate feature-length movies for a fraction of traditional costs.

25 May 2026 - 10:30PMvideocam

Fame and celebrity

Meet Avery Anna, ACM’s New Female Artist of the Year

Her viral TikTok video led to a Nashville recording deal, two full albums and the award, whose previous winners include Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

25 May 2026 - 6:00AM

The Academy of Country Music has crowned Avery Anna as its New Female Artist of the Year. Photo: @avery.anna.music/Instagram

Icons and Influencers

Meet Meredith Duxbury, the TikTok influencer who walked at Gucci cruise 2027

The TikTok star has gone from viral foundation routine to Gucci runway debut and A-list connections … but is she really dating Orlando Bloom?

24 May 2026 - 6:00PM

Malaysia

Malaysia demands TikTok explain failure to block fake account insulting king

Among the ‘grossly offensive’ posts were false claims that the king ate pork and images with his face superimposed onto animal bodies.

21 May 2026 - 5:28PMvideocam

Pakistan

Video | Killer of Pakistani TikTok teen star sentenced to death

The 22-year-old man shot 17-year-old influencer Sana Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his advances.

20 May 2026 - 1:00PM

Sana Yousaf in her last video posted to TikTok.

01:04

Pakistan

Pakistan court sentences man to death for killing TikTok teen who refused him

The 22-year-old man shot 17-year-old influencer Sana Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his advances.

19 May 2026 - 8:47PM

Women activists holding photographs of Sana Yousaf take part in a demonstration condemning violence against women in Islamabad on June 5, 2025. Photo: AFP

Indonesia

Fake news campaigns in Indonesia linked to military, Prabowo’s party: Amnesty

Amnesty’s findings reflect growing concerns that Indonesia is backsliding towards army rule under former special forces commander Prabowo.

19 May 2026 - 4:48PM

Beauty

Solid fragrance – the discreet luxury taking over #PerfumeTok

While Diptyque and Glossier have kept the category alive for years, others like Dior are offering new formats for this alternative to conventional sprays.

12 May 2026 - 6:00AM

United States

US nears US$400 million settlement with TikTok on child-privacy, report says

The money will be used to fund Trump’s ‘beautification’ projects in Washington, the report says.

9 May 2026 - 1:33PMvideocam

The ⁠US alleges that for years, millions of American children under age 13 have been using TikTok and that the ‌site “has been collecting and retaining children’s personal information”. Photo illustration: AFP

Thailand

TikTok invests record US$25b to expand digital infrastructure in Thailand

The Chinese firm will install additional servers and expand data storage infrastructure to support rising demand for digital services.

7 May 2026 - 4:30PM

Beauty

Debunking myths about face oils – and how the right type can benefit you

Experts say these oils balance your skin and reduce inflammation – celebrities like Princess Kate, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow agree.

5 May 2026 - 12:00PM

United States

New Mexico trial citing ‘public nuisance’ laws against Meta, social platforms

The case is being closely watched as governments across the US pursue similar claims seeking to force big tech platforms to change to protect young users.

2 May 2026 - 6:31PM

A recording of Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s deposition is played for the jurors on March 4, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Photo: AP

US-China trade war

From apps to autos: China’s data reach sparks US espionage and sabotage concerns

Washington accused of not doing enough to counter Beijing’s harvesting of key American data and weaponising it as a strategic asset.

1 May 2026 - 6:16AMvideocam

Chinese apps like DeepSeek have raised concerns about their potential to siphon sensitive data from American users. Photo: Reuters

Fame and celebrity

Meet Matt Friend, whose comedy charms stars, presidents – and King Charles

Friend, whose CNN comedy special aired ahead of the White House correspondents’ dinner, is gaining acclaim for his celebrity impressions.

1 May 2026 - 6:00AM

Indonesia

Gaming platform Roblox to require facial scans for users under 16 in Indonesia

This is in line with new restrictions on minors’ use of social media and digital platforms in the country.

30 Apr 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

European Union

Sweden targets social media giants over ‘murder ads’ recruiting children

The government wants to stop criminal gangs use of social media to recruit people - including youngsters - to kill and commit other crimes.

29 Apr 2026 - 11:42PM

Various applications are displayed on a mobile phone, ahead of Sweden planning to fine social media firms unless they swiftly remove ‘murder ads’. Photo: Reuters

My Take

My Take | Why TikTok is being deliberately ruined by its new American owners

The popular social media platform, once owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has been turned into an AI-enabled exploitation and censorship machine.

26 Apr 2026 - 9:38PM

Printed TikTok logos are seen in this illustration taken February 15, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Social media

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

It comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in southern Turkey, in a gun attack.

23 Apr 2026 - 4:59PM

ByteDance

ByteDance profit plunges on AI push as TikTok Shop fuels overseas surge: reports

‘All-in’ AI drive cuts profits by 70 per cent, while booming TikTok Shop sales help overseas markets outpace China, reports say.

20 Apr 2026 - 7:00PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

TikTok

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | Putting the social media genie back in the bottle will not be easy to do

The determination around the world to crack down on the use of these platforms by children is a response to the mounting evidence of the harm it can do.

Australia PM: ‘too many children on social media’, ban too easy to avoid

Opinion | The West must reckon with the reality of China’s rise

UK bans under 16s from social media apps including TikTok, YouTube

The move makes the UK part of a growing global movement to tighten online safety for children.

Opinion | Why Shein’s French fines are a warning to Chinese firms going global

Chinese firms going global can’t just enter foreign markets – they must also work to earn the trust required to stay there.

Singapore orders social media platforms to block anti-Indian posts

Investigations reveal that the divisive posts likely originated from a China-based platform, minister says.

‘Spray 100 times’: inside TikTok’s wild new world of men’s fragrance

From OverSpray Jay’s 100-spritz rule to the rise of dupes, a new generation of obsessive male shoppers is reshaping a multibillion-dollar industry.

Malaysia bars under-16s from social media as new rules come into force

Malaysia’s roll-out of strict age-gating rules follows on the heels of Australia and Indonesia in the push to protect children online.

Micro-drama platform V+Short founders talk content trends and production powerhouses

Angela and Clarissa Tanoesoedibjo, the forces behind newly launched micro drama platform V+Short, on having their fingers on the pulse of viewing trends and positioning the Global South as production hubs.

ByteDance AI films shake up Cannes as TikTok owner challenges Hollywood norms

A new cinematic tool, Seedance 2.0, can generate feature-length movies for a fraction of traditional costs.

Meet Avery Anna, ACM’s New Female Artist of the Year

Her viral TikTok video led to a Nashville recording deal, two full albums and the award, whose previous winners include Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

Meet Meredith Duxbury, the TikTok influencer who walked at Gucci cruise 2027

The TikTok star has gone from viral foundation routine to Gucci runway debut and A-list connections … but is she really dating Orlando Bloom?

Malaysia demands TikTok explain failure to block fake account insulting king

Among the ‘grossly offensive’ posts were false claims that the king ate pork and images with his face superimposed onto animal bodies.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | Killer of Pakistani TikTok teen star sentenced to death

The 22-year-old man shot 17-year-old influencer Sana Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his advances.

Pakistan court sentences man to death for killing TikTok teen who refused him

The 22-year-old man shot 17-year-old influencer Sana Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his advances.

Fake news campaigns in Indonesia linked to military, Prabowo’s party: Amnesty

Amnesty’s findings reflect growing concerns that Indonesia is backsliding towards army rule under former special forces commander Prabowo.

Solid fragrance – the discreet luxury taking over #PerfumeTok

While Diptyque and Glossier have kept the category alive for years, others like Dior are offering new formats for this alternative to conventional sprays.

US nears US$400 million settlement with TikTok on child-privacy, report says

The money will be used to fund Trump’s ‘beautification’ projects in Washington, the report says.

TikTok invests record US$25b to expand digital infrastructure in Thailand

The Chinese firm will install additional servers and expand data storage infrastructure to support rising demand for digital services.

Debunking myths about face oils – and how the right type can benefit you

Experts say these oils balance your skin and reduce inflammation – celebrities like Princess Kate, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow agree.

New Mexico trial citing ‘public nuisance’ laws against Meta, social platforms

The case is being closely watched as governments across the US pursue similar claims seeking to force big tech platforms to change to protect young users.

From apps to autos: China’s data reach sparks US espionage and sabotage concerns

Washington accused of not doing enough to counter Beijing’s harvesting of key American data and weaponising it as a strategic asset.

Meet Matt Friend, whose comedy charms stars, presidents – and King Charles

Friend, whose CNN comedy special aired ahead of the White House correspondents’ dinner, is gaining acclaim for his celebrity impressions.

Gaming platform Roblox to require facial scans for users under 16 in Indonesia

This is in line with new restrictions on minors’ use of social media and digital platforms in the country.

Sweden targets social media giants over ‘murder ads’ recruiting children

The government wants to stop criminal gangs use of social media to recruit people - including youngsters - to kill and commit other crimes.

My Take | Why TikTok is being deliberately ruined by its new American owners

The popular social media platform, once owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has been turned into an AI-enabled exploitation and censorship machine.

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

It comes a week after a 14-year-old boy killed nine students and a teacher at a middle school in southern Turkey, in a gun attack.

ByteDance profit plunges on AI push as TikTok Shop fuels overseas surge: reports

‘All-in’ AI drive cuts profits by 70 per cent, while booming TikTok Shop sales help overseas markets outpace China, reports say.

My Take | Putting the social media genie back in the bottle will not be easy to do

Video | Killer of Pakistani TikTok teen star sentenced to death