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

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. Photo: EPA

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

1 Apr 2026 - 6:00AM

United States

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

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

A person jogs in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC. An 8-1 High Court majority sided with a Christian counsellor who argues the law banning talk therapy violates the First Amendment. Photo: Getty Images via AP

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

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

01:48

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

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

Chinese influencer Marcelo Wang with Rihanna at a Fenty Beauty event. Photo: @marcelowang0527/Instagram

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

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

A screengrab from a TikTok video uploaded by user “puterishantek”, in which purported audio of Muhyiddin was overlaid on a graphic alleging PAS was distancing itself from Perikatan Nasional. Photo: TikTok/Puterishantek

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

Piper Curda, who plays the animal-loving student Mabel Tanaka in Disney-Pixar’s Hoppers, attends the film’s premiere at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on February 23, 2026. Photo: Reuters

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

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

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

The lawsuit argues that US President Donald Trump’s approval of the TikTok deal violates requirements set out in a 2024 divestiture law. Photo illustration: Reuters

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

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

Wellness

Magnesium can help you sleep – but check the dose and how to take it

Experts advise on magnesium threonate, malate, citrate and other compounds, as well as whether you should take it as a pill, as a powder added to a drink or as a spray.

25 Feb 2026 - 6:00AM

Social media

Need help saving money? Your TikTok-viral, rich BFF wants to help

Vivian Tu – ‘Your Rich BFF’ on social media – shares finance tips on everything from talking about money with your partner to overspending.

24 Feb 2026 - 7:15PM

Vivian Tu offers personal finance tips on her Instagram and TikTok accounts, from talking about money with partners to smart investing. Photo: Instagram/your.richbff

Chinese culture

Ancient Chinese astrology gets a Gen Z rebrand in Southeast Asia

Forget rituals and superstitions, today’s young professionals are using ‘bazi’ 10-year luck forecasts to plan their next career pivot.

2 Mar 2026 - 4:06PMvideocam

An event organised by Joey Yap, one of “bazi’s” most prominent modern practitioners. Photo: Handout

Germany

Germany’s ruling party seeks social media ban for children aged below 14

Spain, Greece, France, Britain and other countries are looking at similar social media bans or curbs.

21 Feb 2026 - 10:49PM

United States

Meta’s Zuckerberg grilled in landmark social media addiction trial

The 41-year-old Meta CEO admits regret over slow youth safety progress in a high-stakes California lawsuit.

19 Feb 2026 - 1:17PMvideocam

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TikTok

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

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

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.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}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.

Magnesium can help you sleep – but check the dose and how to take it

Experts advise on magnesium threonate, malate, citrate and other compounds, as well as whether you should take it as a pill, as a powder added to a drink or as a spray.

Need help saving money? Your TikTok-viral, rich BFF wants to help

Vivian Tu – ‘Your Rich BFF’ on social media – shares finance tips on everything from talking about money with your partner to overspending.

Ancient Chinese astrology gets a Gen Z rebrand in Southeast Asia

Forget rituals and superstitions, today’s young professionals are using ‘bazi’ 10-year luck forecasts to plan their next career pivot.

Germany’s ruling party seeks social media ban for children aged below 14

Spain, Greece, France, Britain and other countries are looking at similar social media bans or curbs.

Meta’s Zuckerberg grilled in landmark social media addiction trial

The 41-year-old Meta CEO admits regret over slow youth safety progress in a high-stakes California lawsuit.

Video | Indonesia bans social media for under 16s

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