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

An art installation in Los Angeles highlights the dangers young people face online. Meta has been ordered by a US judge to pay US$567 million over child safety harms. Photo: AFP

United States

Meta ordered in US to pay US$567 million to address child safety harms

Company says it will appeal after a New Mexico judge directs funds to youth mental health programmes and orders app changes.

7 Aug 2026 - 10:12AM

Get to Know

All about the parents of celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton

6 Aug 2026 - 7:00PM

US-China relations

Trump nominee vows to sharpen US media challenge to China

31 Jul 2026 - 6:47AMvideocam

Artificial intelligence

ByteDance sharpens AI focus as annualised revenue reaches US$4b

Company’s projected annual AI revenue is the largest known to the public among Chinese rivals, but still far behind US AI firms.

30 Jul 2026 - 8:30PM

ByteDance said its moves aim to build stronger AI product competitiveness and customer service capabilities. Photo: Shutterstock Images

United States

Tate brothers to remain in US jail as they fight extradition to UK

Influencers fight extradition over new rape and sex trafficking charges as their lawyer claims prosecution lacks evidence.

28 Jul 2026 - 9:53AMvideocam

Wellness

How infinite scrolling hijacks the brain’s reward system like slot machines do

Two experts explain what infinite scrolling does to the brain, why teens are particularly affected, and how to beat the addiction.

23 Jul 2026 - 9:15PM

France

France parliament approves social media ban for children under 15, in EU first

The bill also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools, expected to take effect from the beginning of the next school year.

22 Jul 2026 - 3:32AMvideocam

Teenagers look at their mobile phones during an interview about France’s proposed social media ban in Paris on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Fame and celebrity

Meet Dougie Joseph, Nina Dobrev’s new beau after Olympian Shaun White

The Aussie relocated to New York City to pursue modelling in 2017; his last known relationship was with social media make-up influencer Meredith Duxbury.

18 Jul 2026 - 6:00AM

European Union

EU demands ‘youth mode’ to protect children from addictive social media features

The addictive features include infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalised recommender systems.

14 Jul 2026 - 7:14PM

Icons and Influencers

Meet Tefi Pessoa, host of Love Island USA’s companion show Aftersun

The influencer joined TikTok in 2020 and has amassed some 2 million followers there – she’s also been vocal about what it means to her to be Latina.

14 Jul 2026 - 6:01PM

Tefi Pessoa is one of the two hosts of Love Island USA’s companion show, Aftersun. Photo: @hellotefi/Instagram

European Union

EU eyes social media curbs for children

Australia, Britain, China, India and the United States have already imposed a social media ban or are ‌considering ‌one.

13 Jul 2026 - 7:34PM

A teenager looks at her smartphone in Brussels. The EU is considering a tiered approach, with under-13s only allowed to use social media for limited periods under the supervision of parents, carers and teachers. Photo: AFP

Indonesia

Tokopedia ‘restructuring’ deepens concerns about Indonesia’s tech winter

Tokopedia’s deeper integration into ByteDance’s ecosystem could shift more operations outside Indonesia, analysts say.

9 Jul 2026 - 6:22PM

Indonesia

‘Grading own homework’: is Indonesia outsourcing online safety to tech giants?

Without a regulator, Indonesia’s child online safety rules require digital platforms to assess and remove underage accounts themselves.

9 Jul 2026 - 5:00PMvideocam

Sex and relationships

How do you get a girl to fall in love with you? Ask Emily Lin

Emily Lin’s dating advice – such as saying ‘tell me more’, shutting up and listening – on social media has gone viral with men.

8 Jul 2026 - 7:15AM

Emily Lin became a full-time content creator in 2024. Her “School of Women” series on social media teaches straight men emotional literacy and how to develop healthy, fulfilling relationships with women. Photo: Instagram/therealemilylin

Australia

Australian officials tell fans to give Neil the seal some flipping space

Neil, the only male elephant seal to visit Tasmania in years, has commanded an enthralled TikTok following of 1.4 million.

3 Jul 2026 - 12:52PM

Neil, a 1,000kg elephant seal, moves through a public area in Tasmania on Saturday. Photo: Sam Volker Photography/AP

US-China relations

US lawmakers push for fewer tax breaks to reduce reliance on China technology

Congressman Nathaniel Moran also warns US business leaders of corporate America’s growing ‘toxic relationship’ with ‘adversary’ Beijing.

4 Jul 2026 - 12:40AMvideocam

Indonesia

Unmarried Indonesian couple get 21 lashes each over viral live stream kiss

About 100 people witnessed the caning, carried out by a group of people wearing robes and hoods on a stage in Banda Aceh.

2 Jul 2026 - 5:18PM

Fifa World Cup 2026

Rima Edbouche – the anti-WAG? Meet Ousmane Dembélé’s modest hijabi wife

Ballon d’Or winner of 2025 and Paris Saint-Germain member Dembélé is repping France at the World Cup 2026 – supported by his low-key wife.

1 Jul 2026 - 6:00PM

Ousmane Dembélé with his wife, Rima Edbouche, and daughter after his team Paris Saint-Germain’s victory at the UEFA Champions League Final last May. Photo: Getty Images

South Korea

South Korea ‘fake news’ law triggers free speech, censorship fears

The scope extends beyond social media to malicious reviews and defamatory posts on online communities, delivery apps and shopping platforms.

1 Jul 2026 - 9:32AMvideocam

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

According to a British ‌study, 85 per cent of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect.

27 Jun 2026 - 9:21PMvideocam

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at Question Time in the House of Representatives at Australian Parliament House in 2024, in Canberra. Photo: TNS

US-China relations

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

Beijing’s emergence as a major power must be navigated with wisdom and respect, rather than framed as a threat that needs to be contained.

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

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

A woman inspects a vegetable stall in the Little India district of Singapore in July 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

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

Visionaries

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

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TikTok

Meta ordered in US to pay US$567 million to address child safety harms

Company says it will appeal after a New Mexico judge directs funds to youth mental health programmes and orders app changes.

All about the parents of celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton

Trump nominee vows to sharpen US media challenge to China

ByteDance sharpens AI focus as annualised revenue reaches US$4b

Company’s projected annual AI revenue is the largest known to the public among Chinese rivals, but still far behind US AI firms.

Tate brothers to remain in US jail as they fight extradition to UK

Influencers fight extradition over new rape and sex trafficking charges as their lawyer claims prosecution lacks evidence.

How infinite scrolling hijacks the brain’s reward system like slot machines do

Two experts explain what infinite scrolling does to the brain, why teens are particularly affected, and how to beat the addiction.

France parliament approves social media ban for children under 15, in EU first

The bill also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools, expected to take effect from the beginning of the next school year.

Meet Dougie Joseph, Nina Dobrev’s new beau after Olympian Shaun White

The Aussie relocated to New York City to pursue modelling in 2017; his last known relationship was with social media make-up influencer Meredith Duxbury.

EU demands ‘youth mode’ to protect children from addictive social media features

The addictive features include infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalised recommender systems.

Meet Tefi Pessoa, host of Love Island USA’s companion show Aftersun

The influencer joined TikTok in 2020 and has amassed some 2 million followers there – she’s also been vocal about what it means to her to be Latina.

EU eyes social media curbs for children

Australia, Britain, China, India and the United States have already imposed a social media ban or are ‌considering ‌one.

Tokopedia ‘restructuring’ deepens concerns about Indonesia’s tech winter

Tokopedia’s deeper integration into ByteDance’s ecosystem could shift more operations outside Indonesia, analysts say.

‘Grading own homework’: is Indonesia outsourcing online safety to tech giants?

Without a regulator, Indonesia’s child online safety rules require digital platforms to assess and remove underage accounts themselves.

How do you get a girl to fall in love with you? Ask Emily Lin

Emily Lin’s dating advice – such as saying ‘tell me more’, shutting up and listening – on social media has gone viral with men.

Australian officials tell fans to give Neil the seal some flipping space

Neil, the only male elephant seal to visit Tasmania in years, has commanded an enthralled TikTok following of 1.4 million.

US lawmakers push for fewer tax breaks to reduce reliance on China technology

Congressman Nathaniel Moran also warns US business leaders of corporate America’s growing ‘toxic relationship’ with ‘adversary’ Beijing.

Unmarried Indonesian couple get 21 lashes each over viral live stream kiss

About 100 people witnessed the caning, carried out by a group of people wearing robes and hoods on a stage in Banda Aceh.

Rima Edbouche – the anti-WAG? Meet Ousmane Dembélé’s modest hijabi wife

Ballon d’Or winner of 2025 and Paris Saint-Germain member Dembélé is repping France at the World Cup 2026 – supported by his low-key wife.

South Korea ‘fake news’ law triggers free speech, censorship fears

The scope extends beyond social media to malicious reviews and defamatory posts on online communities, delivery apps and shopping platforms.

.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

According to a British ‌study, 85 per cent of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect.

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

Beijing’s emergence as a major power must be navigated with wisdom and respect, rather than framed as a threat that needs to be contained.

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.

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