TikTok
TikTok to Pitch Ad Buyers at IAB Newfronts Amid Scrutiny
In 2022, the last in-person event of the IAB Newfronts was Twitter, a sort of last hurrah for advertisers on the platform before it was sold to Elon Musk. In 2023, the newfronts will end with another evening presentation from a platform with a decidedly uncertain future: TikTok. The advertising trade organization released its planned […]
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Biden’s TikTok Dilemma: Go After China or Pursue Social Media Antitrust Claims
In big tech, data is currency, and TikTok is printing money. Once known for viral dance videos, the platform has built itself into a digital advertising juggernaut. The app has more than 150 million monthly users and 5 million businesses it can harvest information from to sell ads, it disclosed March 21. It’s the leading video-sharing app in […]
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TikTok CEO’s Testimony to Congress May End Up Escalating Calls for a Ban
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee interrogated the chief executive of TikTok on alleged national security risks posed by the immensely popular video-sharing app, while the CEO stressed that data privacy and security issues are prevalent across all of Big Tech and that the company doesn’t share information with the Chinese government. During […]
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TikTok Now Has More Than 150M U.S. Users
As its CEO prepares to face Congress this week, TikTok on Tuesday disclosed that it now has more than 150 million monthly active users in the U.S., up from 100 million a year ago. Its explosive growth for the social video platform (Snapchat, with a years-long head start, says it has about 150 million users […]
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TikTok’s Former Head of Product Says Creator Fund Wasn’t Launched to “Help Creators Monetize”
Sean Kim, the former head of product for TikTok’s U.S. operations, said the company’s $2 billion creator fund was not launched with the altruistic goal of helping creators monetize on the platform. Instead, according to the executive, TikTok created the fund as a “reactive measure” against competition like YouTube and Snap and as a way […]
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TikTok Star Alix Earle Signs With UTA
Alix Earle, the beauty and lifestyle creator who has experienced a meteoric rise in online fame, has signed with UTA for representation in all areas. The 22-year-old University of Miami senior has grown her TikTok following at a rapid clip, reaching 4.8 million followers to date — a figure that represents a 1,000 percent increase […]
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TikTok Adds Paywall Feature With Longer Videos for Creators
TikTok, in an effort to help creators monetize their followings and upload longer-form content, has launched a paywall feature that will allow creators to charge their fans for access to their videos. Called Series, the feature allows creators to choose their own pricing — between 99 cents to $189.99 — for a collection of their […]
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TikTok Fights Sprawling Litigation Over Alleged In-App Browser Data Harvesting
TikTok is facing a slew of class action lawsuits alleging it tracks and harvests troves of personal information on users through its in-app browser. In the most recent suit filed on Wednesday, users allege TikTok has “secretly amassed massive amounts of highly invasive information and data by tracking their activities on third-party websites.” At least […]
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TikTok Under Fire From Bill Backed by White House
The White House is supporting a bipartisan measure to take action against TikTok and other companies subject to influence from foreign adversaries that could threaten national security. A bill introduced on Monday would establish a new, unified framework for reviewing and addressing foreign technology. Under the measure, the Commerce Department would have the authority to […]
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TikTok Facing Increasing Prospect of National Ban in New Bill Passed by House Committee
TikTok is one step closer to being effectively banned on mobile devices in the U.S, though an outright prohibition still faces significant hurdles. A House committee voted along party lines on Wednesday to advance a bill to block U.S. activity on the popular Chinese-owned video app used by more than 100 million Americans. The measure […]
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TikTok Facing Possibility of “Strict Structural Restrictions” Over National Security Risks
The committee panel reviewing TikTok’s national security risks is facing escalating bipartisan pressure to separate the popular Chinese-owned video app from its parent company. Two senators on Thursday urged The Committee on Foreign Investment to “swiftly conclude its investigation and impose strict structural restrictions between TikTok’s American operations and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, including […]
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TikTok’s Road to the Grammys: Viral Songs by Lizzo, Beyoncé, Sam Smith Compete in Major Categories
Here’s a look at songs that have gone viral on TikTok and will also compete at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. LIZZO After the success of her major-label, Grammy-winning debut album Cuz I Love You, Lizzo — the self-proclaimed “Queen of TikTok” — came out with more feel-good songs that resonated on TikTok, especially “About Damn Time” […]
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