TikTok's surge from niche video-sharing tool to global powerhouse is one of the biggest shifts in digital entertainment since the advent of social media. — AFP
WASHINGTON: TikTok boasts over a billion users worldwide, including more than 170 million in the United States, it says – nearly half the country's population.
Here is a closer look at the phenomenonally successful app, with a US version on the cards after President Donald Trump signed off on a proposed deal giving control to his allies:
Born in China
TikTok's surge from niche video-sharing tool to global powerhouse is one of the biggest shifts in digital entertainment since the advent of social media.
From friends dancing together to home chefs sharing recipes, TikTok can transform ordinary users into celebrities, revolutionizing the traditional path to stardom.
It was launched in 2016 by Chinese tech company ByteDance for the local market, where it is called Douyin. The international version, TikTok, was released in 2017.
The app gained massive momentum after merging with Musical.ly, a lip-synching app, a year later.
'For You' page
The so-called secret sauce in TikTok's rapid expansion has been its innovative recommendation algorithm.
Instead of showing content from accounts that users already follow, the endless scroll of TikTok's "For You" page is based on viewing habits, engagement patterns and sophisticated content analysis.
A video from a complete unknown can reach millions of people if the algorithm determines it engaging enough – a model that the app's rivals have been quick to follow.
TikTok's focus on short clips also helps keep users hooked.
It was initially limited to uploads of 15 seconds, but this was later expanded to up to 10 minutes, and videos as long as 60 minutes are being trialed.
Political suspicions
TikTok's mass appeal means its rise has been controversial, mainly for its Chinese ownership and its built-in unpredictability.
The platform has faced scrutiny from governments worldwide, particularly in the United States, over data privacy and potential ties to the Chinese government – including accusations of spying and propaganda.
India permanently banned TikTok along with other Chinese apps in 2020, citing national security concerns.
Huge fine
A European Union watchdog fined TikTok €530mil (US$620mil) in May for failing to guarantee that its user data was shielded from access by Chinese authorities.
The social media giant says it will appeal the fine, insisting it has never received any requests from Chinese authorities for European users' data.
Teenage safety fears
Albania banned TikTok for a year in March after a 14-year-old schoolboy was killed in the culmination of a confrontation that started on social media.
Other jurisdictions have expressed fears about the potential effects of TikTok on young users, including accusations it funnels them into echo chambers and fails to contain illegal, violent or obscene content.
In a world first, Australia will later this year ban under-16s from social media such as TikTok and Instagram.
Sell or be banned
The US Congress passed legislation in 2024 requiring ByteDance to divest control of TikTok in the United States or be banned.
On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order laying out a proposed deal for a US version of the app that would see Chinese ownership reduced to 20%.
The president said the US version would be run by investors including Larry Ellison, the founder of cloud giant Oracle and tech investor Michael Dell.
He said Chinese President Xi Jinping gave his green light in a phone call last week. – AFP
