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

Although most people get their recipes online these days, many of us still appreciate a good recipe tome -- like this Le Creuset cookbook, published by Assouline. Photo: Handout

Food and Drinks

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

Social media may be awash with recipes, but book fans cite their appreciation for high-quality narratives and photography in a tangible form.

23 Dec 2025 - 6:00AM

TikTok ban

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

22 Dec 2025 - 9:00PM

US-China relations

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

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

A new entity, named TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will come into effect in the United States on January 22. Photo: Getty Images

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 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

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

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

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

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

Research has shown how SIM cards from the grey market are powering bot armies that fill social media with fake likes and comments to manipulate users and deliberately steer trends. Photo: dpa

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

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

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

A girl uses her phone as she walks with a group of children in Sydney on Monday. Photo: AP

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

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

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer taking part in a Q&A session last month on youth employment and the cost of living. Photo: Reuters

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

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

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

Taiwan authorities have announced an internet shutdown and access restriction order for RedNote, tentatively for one year. The app is also known as Xiaohongshu or “little red book”. Photo: Reuters

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

TikTok will comply with an under-16 ban in Australia on social media use. Photo: Shutterstock

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

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

Six-year-old Enrique Navarro watches a show on YouTube at his home in western Sydney on October 30. Photo: AFP

Music

Video killed the radio star and now streaming has killed MTV across Europe

MTV Music, MTV Hits and its 80s and 90s music shows will be shut down in the UK and other European countries in the coming months.

30 Nov 2025 - 3:20PM

Beauty

How hand cream evolved from seasonal product to year-round staple

Once a seasonal essential, hand cream has become an everyday must-have, boosted by TikTok and the beauty industry trend of ‘skinification’.

29 Nov 2025 - 5:00PM

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TikTok

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

Social media may be awash with recipes, but book fans cite their appreciation for high-quality narratives and photography in a tangible form.

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

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

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.

Video killed the radio star and now streaming has killed MTV across Europe

MTV Music, MTV Hits and its 80s and 90s music shows will be shut down in the UK and other European countries in the coming months.

How hand cream evolved from seasonal product to year-round staple

Once a seasonal essential, hand cream has become an everyday must-have, boosted by TikTok and the beauty industry trend of ‘skinification’.

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