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

ByteDance’s top-ranked Doubao AI app. Photo: Shutterstock

Artificial intelligence

ByteDance, other major Chinese tech firms lead local consumer AI market: report

ByteDance-owned Doubao remains the country’s top consumer AI app, as DeepSeek’s namesake chatbot takes the No 2 spot.

24 Dec 2025 - 8:31PM

Year in Review

SCMP Plus Year in Review 2025: China

23 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM

Food and Drinks

Old-fashioned cookbooks remain popular, including with many professional chefs

23 Dec 2025 - 6:00AM

TikTok ban

Exclusive | TikTok owner ByteDance’s valuation hits US$500 billion as US plan advances

Figure marks a record for China’s tech giant, which will divest its US entity into a joint venture that includes Oracle and Silver Lake.

22 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

Investors are happy as ByteDance can continue to reap earnings from TikTok in the US, according to a source. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

Editorial | TikTok deal could show way forward for US-China engagement

The agreement, under which the platform will become a joint venture controlled by a consortium of investors, highlights the importance of negotiation and mutual respect.

22 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

US-China relations

TikTok seals US deal but core algorithm could still rattle ties with China

Compliance questions remain and Beijing’s approval for the spin-off is not guaranteed, observers say.

19 Dec 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

TikTok’s new US deal, China’s answer to Nvidia’s A100: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s discovery of Asia’s largest undersea gold deposit to TikTok’s deal on a new US venture, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

19 Dec 2025 - 9:15PM

TikTok has reached a deal to sell its US operations to a consortium of American investors. Photo: dpa

TikTok ban

TikTok deal, China slowdown, Vanke debt deadline

This week: TikTok owner agrees sale of US operations, China’s retail sales growth unexpectedly cools, US approves Taiwan arms sales and Jimmy Lai is found guilty. Next week: China Vanke bondholders conclude debt-extension vote, Chinese lawmakers gather, Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes to market, and more.

22 Dec 2025 - 2:30PM

US-China trade war

TikTok reaches deal on new US venture with American investor group

The deal was signed on Thursday, with the landmark move ending years of legal and political uncertainty.

19 Dec 2025 - 11:23PMvideocam

Australia

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

Measures to rein in tech companies risk opening the door to tighter state oversight of online platforms, analysts say.

18 Dec 2025 - 5:29PMvideocam

Australia banned social media for children under 16 earlier this month. Photo: dpa

Fashion

The stars wearing upcycled fashion using everything from watch straps to spoons

Hailey Bieber and Lorde both wore a dress made from watch straps by Marine Serre, while Cate Blanchett was spotted in a Hodakova halter top made of spoons.

16 Dec 2025 - 5:00AM

At the Emmys in September, Jenna Ortega turned heads in a stand-out upcycled piece from Sarah Burton’s debut collection for Givenchy, made from dozens of vintage jewels. Photo: TNS

RedNote

Are China’s social media apps the soft power play to win over the West?

After the US migration to RedNote, experts say transforming engagement into influence will require a ‘light touch’ from Beijing.

14 Dec 2025 - 6:20PMvideocam

Scams and swindles

How the global grey market in SIM cards powers fraud and influence

How much does an army of bots cost? A new study reveals how likes and clout are bought.

12 Dec 2025 - 2:39PM

Beauty

Why 1960s Bardot-style glamour is coming back

Sydney Sweeney, Selena Gomez and Zendaya add to the bombshell revival, with voluminous blowouts and cinematic drama back on the red carpet.

11 Dec 2025 - 7:00AM

Jisoo from Blackpink, complete with 60s beehive hair, for Self-Portrait’s fall/winter 2025 campaign. Photo: Handout

Fame and celebrity

Meet Noah Beck, Sidelined star and TikTok phenom

Beck dropped out of college to pursue a successful TikTok career in Los Angeles, he was once a member of Sway House, and he dated Dixie D’Amelio for 2 years.

11 Dec 2025 - 6:00AMvideocam

Noah Beck wearing pieces from Sown Again’s Wanderlake Collection. Photo: @noahbeck/Instagram

Australia

‘#seeyouwhenim16’: Australia’s social media ban for children takes effect

PM Albanese called the ban, which is being closely watched by other nations considering similar measures, ‘a proud day’ for families.

10 Dec 2025 - 3:58PMvideocam

Social media

‘A lot of fear’: Australia’s under-16s anxious ahead of social media ban

As blocks begin on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram before the summer holiday, teens worry they will be ‘basically isolated’ from their friends.

9 Dec 2025 - 5:15PM

Australia

Video | Australia’s under-16 social media ban due to take effect

Platforms have started notifying users under 16 that their access will soon be blocked.

9 Dec 2025 - 4:24PM

02:58

Singapore

Can Singapore’s cyber laws keep pace with speed of borderless online threats?

Long-term resilience will hinge on complementary measures such as deeper regional cooperation and improved digital literacy, analysts say.

9 Dec 2025 - 10:30AM

Britain

‘Follow me’: UK’s Starmer launches TikTok account despite security ban

Prime minister’s office insists ‘security mitigations’ are in place as he turns to the popular Chinese-owned app for greater outreach.

9 Dec 2025 - 2:38PM

Australia

Australian TikTokker gives widowed US cashier, 88, gift of retirement

Ed Bambas took a cashier job at 82 to cope with grief and bills after his wife’s death, but a stranger’s kindness has changed everything.

6 Dec 2025 - 11:34AM

Australian influencer Sam Weidenhofer (right) with 88-year-old US supermarket worker Ed Bambas from Michigan. Photo: Instagram/itssozer

European Union

EU hits Musk’s X with US$140 million fine, risking Trump’s ire

US Vice-President J.D. Vance fired a warning against ‘attacking’ US firms through ‘censorship’ before the penalty was even made public.

6 Dec 2025 - 1:32AM

Elon Musk looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Washingto in November. Photo: AFP

Taiwan

Taiwan blocks mainland Chinese platform RedNote citing ‘high fraud risk’

Island’s digital affairs ministry says five Chinese apps collect sensitive data, access biometric functions and ‘extract system information’.

5 Dec 2025 - 10:13PMvideocam

Australia

TikTok will block under-16s in Australia to comply with ‘upsetting’ new law

Australia’s world-first legislation banning under-16s from social media platforms and websites comes into effect on December 10.

9 Dec 2025 - 4:22PMvideocam

China exports

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

Chinese investment in Brazil is soaring as firms eye the vast potential growth in South America’s ‘blue ocean market’.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:24AMvideocam

ByteDance

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

4 Dec 2025 - 10:45AM

TikTok’s offices in Culver City, California. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

China exports

How Chinese lifestyle brands are finding fans abroad with toys, tea and trends

From milk tea to blind boxes, China’s lighter consumer brands are winning worldwide recognition – though time will tell if the craze will last.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:22AMvideocam

Australia

Fight’s over: YouTube becomes last major platform to accept Australia’s age rule

Despite agreeing to comply, YouTube maintains that it is still ‘fundamentally different’ from other social media services.

3 Dec 2025 - 10:52AM

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TikTok

ByteDance, other major Chinese tech firms lead local consumer AI market: report

ByteDance-owned Doubao remains the country’s top consumer AI app, as DeepSeek’s namesake chatbot takes the No 2 spot.

SCMP Plus Year in Review 2025: China

Old-fashioned cookbooks remain popular, including with many professional chefs

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | TikTok owner ByteDance’s valuation hits US$500 billion as US plan advances

Figure marks a record for China’s tech giant, which will divest its US entity into a joint venture that includes Oracle and Silver Lake.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Editorial | TikTok deal could show way forward for US-China engagement

The agreement, under which the platform will become a joint venture controlled by a consortium of investors, highlights the importance of negotiation and mutual respect.

TikTok seals US deal but core algorithm could still rattle ties with China

Compliance questions remain and Beijing’s approval for the spin-off is not guaranteed, observers say.

TikTok’s new US deal, China’s answer to Nvidia’s A100: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s discovery of Asia’s largest undersea gold deposit to TikTok’s deal on a new US venture, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

TikTok deal, China slowdown, Vanke debt deadline

This week: TikTok owner agrees sale of US operations, China’s retail sales growth unexpectedly cools, US approves Taiwan arms sales and Jimmy Lai is found guilty. Next week: China Vanke bondholders conclude debt-extension vote, Chinese lawmakers gather, Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes to market, and more.

TikTok reaches deal on new US venture with American investor group

The deal was signed on Thursday, with the landmark move ending years of legal and political uncertainty.

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

Measures to rein in tech companies risk opening the door to tighter state oversight of online platforms, analysts say.

The stars wearing upcycled fashion using everything from watch straps to spoons

Hailey Bieber and Lorde both wore a dress made from watch straps by Marine Serre, while Cate Blanchett was spotted in a Hodakova halter top made of spoons.

Are China’s social media apps the soft power play to win over the West?

After the US migration to RedNote, experts say transforming engagement into influence will require a ‘light touch’ from Beijing.

How the global grey market in SIM cards powers fraud and influence

How much does an army of bots cost? A new study reveals how likes and clout are bought.

Why 1960s Bardot-style glamour is coming back

Sydney Sweeney, Selena Gomez and Zendaya add to the bombshell revival, with voluminous blowouts and cinematic drama back on the red carpet.

Meet Noah Beck, Sidelined star and TikTok phenom

Beck dropped out of college to pursue a successful TikTok career in Los Angeles, he was once a member of Sway House, and he dated Dixie D’Amelio for 2 years.

‘#seeyouwhenim16’: Australia’s social media ban for children takes effect

PM Albanese called the ban, which is being closely watched by other nations considering similar measures, ‘a proud day’ for families.

‘A lot of fear’: Australia’s under-16s anxious ahead of social media ban

As blocks begin on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram before the summer holiday, teens worry they will be ‘basically isolated’ from their friends.

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Australia’s under-16 social media ban due to take effect

Platforms have started notifying users under 16 that their access will soon be blocked.

Can Singapore’s cyber laws keep pace with speed of borderless online threats?

Long-term resilience will hinge on complementary measures such as deeper regional cooperation and improved digital literacy, analysts say.

‘Follow me’: UK’s Starmer launches TikTok account despite security ban

Prime minister’s office insists ‘security mitigations’ are in place as he turns to the popular Chinese-owned app for greater outreach.

Australian TikTokker gives widowed US cashier, 88, gift of retirement

Ed Bambas took a cashier job at 82 to cope with grief and bills after his wife’s death, but a stranger’s kindness has changed everything.

EU hits Musk’s X with US$140 million fine, risking Trump’s ire

US Vice-President J.D. Vance fired a warning against ‘attacking’ US firms through ‘censorship’ before the penalty was even made public.

Taiwan blocks mainland Chinese platform RedNote citing ‘high fraud risk’

Island’s digital affairs ministry says five Chinese apps collect sensitive data, access biometric functions and ‘extract system information’.

TikTok will block under-16s in Australia to comply with ‘upsetting’ new law

Australia’s world-first legislation banning under-16s from social media platforms and websites comes into effect on December 10.

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

Chinese investment in Brazil is soaring as firms eye the vast potential growth in South America’s ‘blue ocean market’.

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

How Chinese lifestyle brands are finding fans abroad with toys, tea and trends

From milk tea to blind boxes, China’s lighter consumer brands are winning worldwide recognition – though time will tell if the craze will last.

Fight’s over: YouTube becomes last major platform to accept Australia’s age rule

Despite agreeing to comply, YouTube maintains that it is still ‘fundamentally different’ from other social media services.

Exclusive | TikTok owner ByteDance’s valuation hits US$500 billion as US plan advances

Editorial | TikTok deal could show way forward for US-China engagement

Video | Australia’s under-16 social media ban due to take effect