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

Tencent’s WeChat, marketed as Weixin on the mainland, has warned against speculative and low-effort content. Photo: Shutterstock

Artificial intelligence

Tencent moves to rein in AI content flood on WeChat with stricter rules

Updated guidelines target mass-produced and AI-rewritten posts, reflecting growing concern over the spread of low-effort content.

10 Apr 2026 - 9:31PM

Hong Kong society

Legal Tales | Antisocial media: Meta, Google liable in landmark case for mental health harm

9 Apr 2026 - 10:02AM

ByteDance

ByteDance valuation exceeds US$600 billion after proposed equity sale: sources

8 Apr 2026 - 1:40PM

Malaysia

Malaysian bookshop hits on novel idea to hook readers addicted to ‘brain rot’

BookXcess’ ‘Brain Un-Rot Library’ turns 100 books into short TikTok clips similar to the type of videos blamed for wrecking attention span.

9 Apr 2026 - 1:07PM

A couple reads using different methods at a Kuala Lumpur Reads event. Photo: Instagram/kualalumpurreads

TV shows and streaming video

‘Like a TikTok trend’: how micro dramas leave big studios in their dust

The head of a Chinese micro drama company shares how studios behind short-form shows for phones use data to keep viewers hooked.

2 Apr 2026 - 5:15PMvideocam

China-Canada relations

Canada’s finance minister visits China as both countries seek to bolster ties

Francois-Philippe Champagne’s four-day trip comes close on the heels of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing in January.

1 Apr 2026 - 11:35PM

Beauty

Why your scalp care routine is just as important as hair care

Dandruff persists due to scalp imbalances, not poor hygiene – but regular care with antifungal shampoos and gentle serums can help manage it.

8 Apr 2026 - 10:42AM

United States

New York Mayor Mamdani puts city’s government back on TikTok

The city’s top official, himself a social media star, has reversed a ban on the app that was sparked by concerns over its Chinese links.

1 Apr 2026 - 5:57AMvideocam

United States

US top court rules against ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBTQ+ youth

The justices agreed the law raises free speech concerns and sent it back to a lower court to decide if it meets a legal standard.

31 Mar 2026 - 11:14PM

Artificial intelligence

ByteDance adds watermarking, IP checks to Seedance 2.0 ahead of global launch

TikTok parent ByteDance says guardrails will protect Seedance 2.0 as it expands globally despite intense scrutiny from Hollywood.

30 Mar 2026 - 8:13AMvideocam

Video-generation model Seedance 2.0 is displayed at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing on March 25.Photo: Xinhua

Indonesia

Indonesia begins social media ban for children under 16

Indonesia is now the first country in Southeast Asia to ban children from having accounts on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.

29 Mar 2026 - 8:11AMvideocam

Social media

Video | Indonesia bans social media for under 16s

Authorities say the move aims to protect children and young teens against addiction, abuse and exposure to harmful content.

28 Mar 2026 - 8:00AM

United States

Meta and Google liable for damages in landmark US addiction trial

Jury orders US$6 million payout to a young woman, a verdict that could affect thousands of similar cases against tech companies.

26 Mar 2026 - 1:39PM

Celebrity Families

Meet Lara Cosima, who just got engaged to Kering heir François Pinault Jr

The ‘modern-day Marie Antoinette’ and member of the Austro-Hungarian nobility has walked for Armani and drew internet attention at Le Bal in 2023

25 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

Model and influencer Lara Cosima is a member of the Austro-Hungarian nobility. Photos: @laracosima_/Instagram

Social media

Meta ordered to pay US$375 million in New Mexico child safety trial

Meta said it would challenge the decision after a jury found the social media giant liable for endangering minors.

25 Mar 2026 - 9:26AM

A recording of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s deposition being played for jurors. Photo: Santa Fe New Mexican via AP

Icons and Influencers

Meet Marcelo Wang, the influencer teaching Rihanna phrases in Mandarin

The content creator boasts over 1 million followers on Instagram, just attended Milan Fashion Week – and speaks Portuguese, too.

16 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

Singapore

Singaporean TikTokker to be charged with defamation, spreading falsehoods

In one of his videos, the man claimed that the government was paying to attract Chinese nationals and nurture them as leaders.

11 Mar 2026 - 10:40AM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Sarah J. Maas, bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses

BookTok may have criticised her for a lack of representation and problematic themes in her works, but the Jewish writer has sold 75 million copies of her books.

10 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

Sarah J. Maas has exciting news for her fans: two new books in her best-selling romantasy series. Photo: @sarahjmaas/Instagram

Malaysia

In Malaysia, Muhyiddin’s corruption trial opens with a fight over TikTok

A former PM, a landmark corruption case – and the prosecution’s opening evidence is a pair of TikTok videos the defence says cannot stand.

10 Mar 2026 - 5:49PMvideocam

American cinema

How Hoppers star Piper Curda hopes to inspire people in Pixar’s new film

Curda says she hopes her character’s determination to save animals rubs off on viewers of Daniel Chong’s environmentally friendly animation.

10 Mar 2026 - 5:11PMvideocam

Canada

TikTok gets green light to stay in Canada, reversing earlier ban

The app, owned by China’s ByteDance, has agreed to improve privacy and security, and to enhance protections for minors.

10 Mar 2026 - 7:31AMvideocam

TikTok Technology Canada will now be allowed to operate under new legally binding commitments to enhance its security. Photo illustration: dpa

Indonesia

Indonesia to ban under-16s from ‘high-risk’ social media platforms

Minister Meutya Hafid said the restrictions would protect children from online harms, but experts warned enforcement might prove difficult.

6 Mar 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

A student uses a mobile phone for online learning in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in 2020. Photo: EPA

US-China relations

Trump sued in bid to undo approval of TikTok’s US sale

The lawsuit is the first legal challenge to the deal with China’s ByteDance, but does not seek to force a US ban on the short-video platform.

6 Mar 2026 - 7:48AMvideocam

Timepieces

Russell Crowe’s luxury watch collection, as he revealed on TikTok

The actor has built an impressive collection, from his most talked-about Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ‘Tiffany’ to an Omega Seamaster James Bond tribute.

5 Mar 2026 - 6:00PM

Books and literature

How Asian-American couple’s Tubby Nugget went from silly doodle to viral fame

The husband-and-wife creators of Tubby Nugget reflect on their character’s incredible success as they release their first graphic novel.

3 Mar 2026 - 2:23PM

A image of Tubby Nugget with his dog, Hunter, from the Tubby Nugget Instagram account. Photo: Instagram/tubbynugget

Chinese culture

Language Matters | Gen Z loves ‘Chinamaxxing’, but where does ‘maxxing’ come from?

Chinamaxxing, lookmaxxing, moneymaxxing and gymmaxxing might be new terms, but the practice of ‘maxxing’ has been around for a while.

2 Mar 2026 - 11:15AM

“Chinamaxxing”, in which the norms and traditions associated with Chinese culture are embraced, is trending, but “maxxing” has roots older than you would think. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote

ByteDance

ByteDance valuation said to hit record US$550 billion in proposed equity sale

Pending sale by US private equity firm General Atlantic shows ByteDance’s valuation has surged from US$400 billion as recently as mid-2025.

25 Feb 2026 - 8:00PM

Singapore

Singapore prime minister attacked by hundreds of Chinese-language fake AI videos

The videos targeting Lawrence Wong spread false narratives about his leadership being under threat and political infighting in Singapore.

25 Feb 2026 - 9:31AMvideocam

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TikTok

Tencent moves to rein in AI content flood on WeChat with stricter rules

Updated guidelines target mass-produced and AI-rewritten posts, reflecting growing concern over the spread of low-effort content.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Legal Tales | Antisocial media: Meta, Google liable in landmark case for mental health harm

ByteDance valuation exceeds US$600 billion after proposed equity sale: sources

Malaysian bookshop hits on novel idea to hook readers addicted to ‘brain rot’

BookXcess’ ‘Brain Un-Rot Library’ turns 100 books into short TikTok clips similar to the type of videos blamed for wrecking attention span.

‘Like a TikTok trend’: how micro dramas leave big studios in their dust

The head of a Chinese micro drama company shares how studios behind short-form shows for phones use data to keep viewers hooked.

Canada’s finance minister visits China as both countries seek to bolster ties

Francois-Philippe Champagne’s four-day trip comes close on the heels of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing in January.

Why your scalp care routine is just as important as hair care

Dandruff persists due to scalp imbalances, not poor hygiene – but regular care with antifungal shampoos and gentle serums can help manage it.

New York Mayor Mamdani puts city’s government back on TikTok

The city’s top official, himself a social media star, has reversed a ban on the app that was sparked by concerns over its Chinese links.

US top court rules against ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBTQ+ youth

The justices agreed the law raises free speech concerns and sent it back to a lower court to decide if it meets a legal standard.

ByteDance adds watermarking, IP checks to Seedance 2.0 ahead of global launch

TikTok parent ByteDance says guardrails will protect Seedance 2.0 as it expands globally despite intense scrutiny from Hollywood.

Indonesia begins social media ban for children under 16

Indonesia is now the first country in Southeast Asia to ban children from having accounts on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Indonesia bans social media for under 16s

Authorities say the move aims to protect children and young teens against addiction, abuse and exposure to harmful content.

Meta and Google liable for damages in landmark US addiction trial

Jury orders US$6 million payout to a young woman, a verdict that could affect thousands of similar cases against tech companies.

Meet Lara Cosima, who just got engaged to Kering heir François Pinault Jr

The ‘modern-day Marie Antoinette’ and member of the Austro-Hungarian nobility has walked for Armani and drew internet attention at Le Bal in 2023

Meta ordered to pay US$375 million in New Mexico child safety trial

Meta said it would challenge the decision after a jury found the social media giant liable for endangering minors.

Meet Marcelo Wang, the influencer teaching Rihanna phrases in Mandarin

The content creator boasts over 1 million followers on Instagram, just attended Milan Fashion Week – and speaks Portuguese, too.

Singaporean TikTokker to be charged with defamation, spreading falsehoods

In one of his videos, the man claimed that the government was paying to attract Chinese nationals and nurture them as leaders.

Meet Sarah J. Maas, bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses

BookTok may have criticised her for a lack of representation and problematic themes in her works, but the Jewish writer has sold 75 million copies of her books.

In Malaysia, Muhyiddin’s corruption trial opens with a fight over TikTok

A former PM, a landmark corruption case – and the prosecution’s opening evidence is a pair of TikTok videos the defence says cannot stand.

How Hoppers star Piper Curda hopes to inspire people in Pixar’s new film

Curda says she hopes her character’s determination to save animals rubs off on viewers of Daniel Chong’s environmentally friendly animation.

TikTok gets green light to stay in Canada, reversing earlier ban

The app, owned by China’s ByteDance, has agreed to improve privacy and security, and to enhance protections for minors.

Indonesia to ban under-16s from ‘high-risk’ social media platforms

Minister Meutya Hafid said the restrictions would protect children from online harms, but experts warned enforcement might prove difficult.

Trump sued in bid to undo approval of TikTok’s US sale

The lawsuit is the first legal challenge to the deal with China’s ByteDance, but does not seek to force a US ban on the short-video platform.

Russell Crowe’s luxury watch collection, as he revealed on TikTok

The actor has built an impressive collection, from his most talked-about Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ‘Tiffany’ to an Omega Seamaster James Bond tribute.

How Asian-American couple’s Tubby Nugget went from silly doodle to viral fame

The husband-and-wife creators of Tubby Nugget reflect on their character’s incredible success as they release their first graphic novel.

Language Matters | Gen Z loves ‘Chinamaxxing’, but where does ‘maxxing’ come from?

Chinamaxxing, lookmaxxing, moneymaxxing and gymmaxxing might be new terms, but the practice of ‘maxxing’ has been around for a while.

ByteDance valuation said to hit record US$550 billion in proposed equity sale

Pending sale by US private equity firm General Atlantic shows ByteDance’s valuation has surged from US$400 billion as recently as mid-2025.

Singapore prime minister attacked by hundreds of Chinese-language fake AI videos

The videos targeting Lawrence Wong spread false narratives about his leadership being under threat and political infighting in Singapore.

Legal Tales | Antisocial media: Meta, Google liable in landmark case for mental health harm

Video | Indonesia bans social media for under 16s