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☆ States sue TikTok over app's effect on kids' mental health
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Schwalb's suit alleges a slew of "profound" mental health risks are posed to teens and children by compulsive TikTok use, including depression, anxiety, sleep loss and body dysmorphia. "TikTok knows that its design features make its App more addictive and keep users engaged for longer," the suit in D.C. Superior Court alleges. The complaint also says that in 2019, the company introduced "two new dangerous features": a live-streaming feature called TikTok LIVE and a virtual currency system called TikTok "Coins." TikTok incentivizes users to go LIVE by promising these monetary rewards 'the more popular [their] content becomes.'" The suit says that TikTok "earns substantial revenue" from its Coins, charging commissions of up to 50% on each transaction.

Persons: ByteDance, Brian Schwalb, Schwalb, TikTok Organizations: U.S . House, District of Columbia, CNBC, Washington , D.C, NHL's Washington Capitals hockey, Schwalb, AGs, Senate Locations: TikTok, Culver City , California, New York, California, U.S, D.C, Los Angeles, Washington ,, United States, China, Beijing

☆ Blue-collar jobs are booming. White-collar jobs, not so much.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Now, she told me, blue-collar work is an oasis in the fake-email-job desert, with a newfound social cachet. In a survey conducted in late 2021, 67% of blue-collar workers said they believed the pandemic changed how people viewed their jobs, and 75% of white-collar workers agreed. AdvertisementNow, the economy is adding blue-collar jobs at a rapid clip. There is a tendency — particularly among white-collar workers — to look at blue-collar work through rose-colored glasses, to romanticize the hard work and skills it requires. The labor market hasn't completely reversed course; blue-collar jobs may be booming, but a bachelor's degree is still often a prerequisite for roles with high pay and numerous benefits.

Persons: Alyssa DeOliveira, didn't, DeOliveira, Chris Collins, Collins, Steven Kurutz, influencers, Eames, Bernie Sanders, Elise Gould, she's, it's, moratoriums —, Gould, Frankie Giambrone, Giambrone, Biden, Lael Brainard, Scott Gove, Michael Kaye, Gove, there's, he's, Sam Pillar, Jeff Goldalian Organizations: Walmart, UPS, Business, The New York Times, Economic, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Economic Council, Teamsters Union, United Auto Workers, Teamsters Locations: Boston, Tennessee, New York City

☆ Biden’s Challenges in Reaching Young Voters on TikTok Include Anger Over Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Anjali Huynh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden’s campaign is working to reach across the generation gap to the tens of millions of predominantly younger voters on TikTok, where the challenges are daunting and the rewards difficult to track. The obstacles range from anger over the war in Gaza to what social media experts describe as the unavoidably uncool nature of supporting the administration in power. Mr. Biden, 81, joined the app owned by a Chinese company last month, in what was widely seen as an effort to communicate with voters under 30, among whom he has polled poorly for months. In interviews and surveys, those voters indicated an unawareness about his administration’s accomplishments, something a word of mouth campaign on TikTok could alleviate.

Persons: Biden’s, Biden Locations: TikTok, Gaza

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A GOP legislative effort to prevent Virginia children from using the popular video-sharing app TikTok — an idea backed by Republican Gov. Jay Leftwich of Chesapeake, was left in a House of Delegates committee after concerns were raised about how the ban would be enforced. Leftwich also said he brought the bill out of mental health and data privacy concerns for young people. “But I will not be supporting this bill because I think it’s unfair to single out TikTok,” she said. “We’ve long said bans, like the one proposed in this legislation, are not only the wrong approach, but also raise significant First Amendment concerns," Brown said.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin —, Republican Del, Jay Leftwich, Lawmakers, Youngkin, Leftwich, ”, —, Holly Seibold, Jamal Brown, We’ve, Brown, Macaulay Porter, “ Organizations: —, Republican Gov, Democratic, Republican, Inc, Commonwealth, TikTok Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Chesapeake, Fairfax County, Commonwealth

☆ Ex-TikTok executive says she was fired because she 'lacked the docility and meekness' required of women at the company
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewAn ex-managing director at TikTok has accused the company behind the popular social media app and its China-based owner of unlawfully firing her because the corporate big-wigs deemed she "lacked the docility and meekness" required of women working there. "Zhang and other corporate executives determined that Ms. Puris lacked the docility and meekness specifically required of female employees," the complaint says. "By the second quarter of 2021, it became very evident that Ms. Puris was on Lidong Zhang's 'kill list,'" the lawsuit says. "Part of Lidong Zhang's 'kill list' approach was to build a case against any employee he placed on the list and instruct other employees to do the same."

Persons: —, Katie Ellen Puris, Lidong Zhang, ByteDance, Puris, United States —, Zhang, TikTok, Marjorie Mesidor, Monica Hincken Organizations: Service, Business, TikTok's New, TikTok Inc, Google, Facebook, Cannes Lions, Cannes Lion Locations: TikTok, China, New York, Beijing, TikTok's New York, United States, France, Lidong

☆ Execs of color at TikTok and Snapchat open up about the influencer pay gap and how they're trying to level the playing field for creators from diverse backgrounds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Today, Girma is TikTok's Black creator community development manager, leading # BlackTikTok , a virtual space on the social-media platform that amplifies the voices and content of Black creators. To address this, platforms from Meta to TikTok have introduced various programs over the years that intentionally center nonwhite communities. BI spoke with executives at TikTok and Snapchat who lead the initiatives short-form content creators say have been the most helpful to them. These programs offer tailored knowledge, connections, and funding for diverse creators like Gabrielle Cerberville, who has 1.1 million followers on TikTok . "Discrimination is baked into TikTok's algorithm because it centers on whiteness, so programs like CasaTikTok help normalize content by creators of color," Cerberville said.

Persons: Alexzi Girma, Girma, she's, execs, they've, Jessica Ufuoma, who's, Janice Gassam Asare, Snapchat, Gabrielle Cerberville, Kayla Zapata Fory, Fory, Varshini Shah, Francis Roberts, Roberts, Shah, that's, I've, AJ, Brooke Berry, Cerberville, Colin Rocker, Gen Z, BlackTikTok, He's, you'll Organizations: Business, Influencer Locations: Meta, CasaTikTok

CNN —Dozens of young Americans have posted videos on TikTok this week expressing sympathy with Osama bin Laden, the notorious terrorist who orchestrated the September 11 attacks, for a two-decade-old letter he wrote critiquing the United States, including its government and support of Israel. TikTok is hugely popular with young Americans, with a majority of Americans under 30 using the app at least once a week, according to a KFF survey. The attack was orchestrated by Bin Laden, the former leader of the al Qaeda terrorist group who was killed in a US special forces raid in 2011. “There’s no proof it was written by bin Laden and some of the things that he focuses on are inconsistent with his other writings,” he told CNN. New data from the Pew Research Center released Wednesday shows TikTok is rapidly becoming a place where more and more young Americans get their news.

Persons: Osama bin Laden, TikTok, Bin Laden, influencer, ”, al, Andrew Bates, “, ” Bates, ” Imran Ahmed, ” Ahmed, Peter Bergen, Bergen, bin Laden, Pew Organizations: CNN, Israel, Hamas, Center, CNN National Security, Guardian, Pew Research Center Locations: United States, Israel, New York City , Washington, Pennsylvania, America, New York, American, al Qaeda, Palestine, TikTok

☆ Gen Z is forcing a workplace reckoning that should have happened years ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Gen Z, on the heels of the pandemic, is pushing for changes to how we work. Workers across generations are benefitting from some of the questions Gen Z has been asking. AdvertisementAdvertisementThanks, Gen Z. Gen Zers aren't likely to get everything they're asking for — at least not right away. And even workplace jargon — that code for showing you belong because you know how to toss it around — is getting a Gen Z rewrite .

Persons: Gen Z, —, Zers aren't, Pradeep Philip, Philip, That's, Nicole Kyle, Zers, Brynn Anderson, who've, Alex Soojung, Kim Pang, Pang, we've, Read, Zer, Gen Organizations: Workers, Service, Deloitte, Economics, CMP Research, United Auto Workers, Detroit, UPS, Associated Press, UAW, didn't Locations: America

☆ TikTok creators are raking in cash and scoring millions of views from its shopping affiliate program. Will it last?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Dan Whateley | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

TikTok creators are raking in sales commissions from its new e-commerce program, TikTok Shop. TikTok has some requirements for who can join its TikTok Shop program. Some users work directly with brands on TikTok Shop promotions, while others simply choose eligible products from TikTok Shop sellers at a standard commission rate. Micro and nano influencers can also score big TikTok Shop paydaysCreators don't need to have millions or even hundreds of thousands of followers to make good money from TikTok Shop commissions. Natalie Park, a fashion, lifestyle, and college content creator with around 32,000 TikTok followers, also had a TikTok Shop video featuring a phone stand go viral.

Persons: Shayna Farnan, Farnan, Jeneen Sahtout, Shawn Jacobson, Jacobson, TikTok, Nicole Rechtszaid, Arlene Resendiz, Resendiz, Sharon Jayy, Grace Secrist, Alexander Jane, Natalie Park, I'm, what's, influencers, they'd Organizations: Walmart, CVS, TikTok, influencers, Ghost Agency, TikTop, Fund Locations: Pennsylvania, UK, Indonesia

☆ TikTokers are earning thousands in commissions from its new shopping program and scoring millions of views. Will it last?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Dan Whateley | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

TikTok creators are raking in sales commissions from its new e-commerce program, TikTok Shop. TikTok has some requirements for who can join its TikTok Shop program. Micro and nano influencers can also score big TikTok Shop paydaysCreators don't need to have millions or even hundreds of thousands of followers to make good money from TikTok Shop commissions. Natalie Park, a fashion, lifestyle, and college content creator with around 32,000 TikTok followers, also had a TikTok Shop video featuring a phone stand go viral. "It's just a matter of sorting through the TikTok Shop and finding what's actually on there that's worth my time."

WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) - TikTok Inc on Wednesday asked a U.S. judge to block enforcement of a Montana state ban on use of the Chinese-owned app before it takes effect on Jan. 1. Chandlee said if the ban takes effect "we expect that additional advertisers and business partners will pull back from working with TikTok Inc (which is the entity that receives income from U.S. advertisers, including in Montana)." Montana could impose fines of $10,000 for each violation by TikTok. TikTok estimates 380,000 people in Montana use the video service, or more than a third of the state's 1.1 million people. TikTok's lawsuit names Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who is charged with enforcing the law.

Persons: China's ByteDance, Donald W, Molloy, Blake Chandlee, TikTok, Chandlee, Donald Trump, Austin Knudsen, David Shepardson, Himani Sarkar, Robert Birsel Organizations: Inc, Wednesday, U.S, District, TikTok, Business, Constitution's, TikTok Inc, HK, Montana Attorney, Thomson Locations: Montana

China and U.S. flags are seen near a TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken July 16, 2020. Florence Lo | ReutersBEIJING — China says it would "strongly oppose" a forced sale of TikTok, making clear the government's involvement with the social media giant that's trying hard to distance itself from Beijing authorities. ByteDance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Chinese Commerce Ministry's remarks. But the commerce ministry's claim of control over a TikTok sale or spinoff indicates Beijing wants to be involved. When asked about the commerce ministry's remarks Thursday, TikTok's CEO said the app isn't available in mainland China and is based in Los Angeles.

☆ TikTok CEO set for grilling in House hearing. But U.S. lawmakers also face questions
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

U.S. tech platforms including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Google's YouTube , Twitter and Snap's Snapchat have raised similar fears for lawmakers and users. Evaluating a potential banThere's little appetite in Washington to accept the potential risks that TikTok's ownership by Chinese company ByteDance poses to U.S. national security. The interagency panel tasked with reviewing national security risks stemming from ByteDance's ownership has threatened a ban if the company won't sell its stake in the app. Trahan said members should ask about national security risks of the app, but those questions should be substantive. Bowman noted lawmakers haven't received a bipartisan congressional briefing from the administration on national security risks stemming from TikTok.

March 9 (Reuters) - Bytedance's TikTok Inc persuaded a federal jury in Los Angeles on Thursday that its Stitch feature does not violate trademark rights belonging to British video-editing company Stitch Editing Ltd. The jury rejected Stitch Editing's argument that TikTok confuses consumers by using the Stitch name to brand the popular social-media platform's technology for "stitching" videos together. It sued in 2021 over TikTok's Stitch technology, which allows users to splice other videos on the platform into their own. Stitch Editing told the court that TikTok's use of "Stitch" gave users the mistaken impression that the companies are affiliated and threatened to drown out its brand. The case is Stitch Editing Ltd v. TikTok Inc, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, No.

☆ TikTok introduces new paywalled 20-minute video feature
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The New Economy Forum is being organized by Bloomberg Media Group, a division of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News. The new feature, called Series, will allow select creators to share longer videos that will be available for purchase behind a paywall. Users have previously only been able to share 15-second, 1-minute, 3-minute or 10-minute videos on TikTok. The new feature will further heat up the competition with platforms like YouTube — which is known for its long-form videos. In August 2021, YouTube introduced YouTube Shorts as a direct alternative to TikTok.

☆ House panel to vote on bill empowering Biden to ban TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The legislation — introduced Friday and fast-tracked by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul — would empower the Biden administration to impose a nationwide TikTok ban under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Legal experts and even some TikTok creators have cited the Berman Amendment as a potential barrier to a nationwide TikTok ban because it may violate the Berman Amendment’s protections for electronic information. US officials have said that the data could benefit China by facilitating targeted misinformation campaigns or by providing it with intelligence targets. In seeking to restrict access to a specific social media platform, the bill risks violating Americans’ First Amendment rights to free expression, the ACLU said. “Would an entity be under the influence of China if the CEO’s sister had moved there, or married a Chinese person?

☆ EU executive arm bars employees from using TikTok, citing security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Shou Zi Chew, chief executive officer of TikTok Inc., speaks during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, banned its employees from using TikTok on their smartphones amid concerns from Western governments about the risks the platform may pose to national security. The commission said staff would no longer be able to have the Chinese-owned app installed on corporate and personal devices, citing concerns over how it handles user data. TikTok has admitted that data on its European users can be accessed by employees based in China, but denies it would ever share such information with the Chinese government. "We are continuing to enhance our approach to data security — establishing three data centres in Europe to store user data locally; further reducing employee access to data; and minimising data flows outside of Europe."

☆ Senators pressure CFIUS to wrap up TikTok probe with strict restrictions, potentially even separating it from its Chinese parent company
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The New Economy Forum is being organized by Bloomberg Media Group, a division of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News. The company has said U.S. user data is not stored in China and that it continually tests its security measures. That kind of access would be particularly worrying since China's national security laws allow it to compel companies based there to hand over internal information if the government believes there is a national security issue at play. The group is empowered to investigate foreign investments and transactions with potential national security risks. "CFIUS is committed to taking all necessary actions within its authority to safeguard U.S. national security," a Treasury spokesperson said in a statement.

☆ TikTok CEO to testify before House panel about app's security and ties to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The New Economy Forum is being organized by Bloomberg Media Group, a division of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News. Photographer: Bryan van der Beek/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesTikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before a House panel on March 23 about the app's security and privacy practices and its ties to China through parent company ByteDance. TikTok has been engaging with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which can determine if certain risk mitigation measures are adequate to dampen national security concerns. Still, those negotiations have reportedly been delayed at least as of last month, as officials continue to worry about the implications of the app's ownership by Chinese parent company ByteDance. Fears over TikTok's national security and privacy implications for consumers have spanned both sides of Congress, and stretched across the Trump administration into the Biden administration.

☆ Who is Shou Zi Chew? Mounting scrutiny on TikTok could put new spotlight on its CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Months later, when TikTok was grilled by Congress over privacy and security concerns, Pappas was the TikTok executive in the hot seat fielding questions. But Chew, who took over as TikTok CEO in April 2021, has largely stayed out of the spotlight at a time when the app he leads can’t seem to avoid it. He eventually went on to become the CFO of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, which he helped take public in 2018. While Chew is not a Chinese national, Quint noted Chinese tech companies and leaders that have drawn too much attention to themselves have faced tough government crackdowns. Ultimately, Quint said, “I don’t think the CEO of TikTok has much relevance at all” for US lawmakers scrutinizing its ties to China.

So I dove headfirst into the credit card tag on TikTok and found the app's most popular "hacks" for credit card experts and novices. Here's a look at some of the best and worst credit card hacks on TikTok right now. Credit utilization ratio refers to the amount of debt you have in relation to your income (debt/income = credit utilization ratio). How it worksIf you search "credit card hack" on TikTok you're sure to find dozens of posts on the 15/3 method. "While it won't double your payment history, the 15/3 credit payment hack can actually help you reduce the reported amount on your credit card."

☆ TikTok may push potentially harmful content to teens within minutes, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —TikTok may surface potentially harmful content related to suicide and eating disorders to teenagers within minutes of them creating an account, a new study suggests, likely adding to growing scrutiny of the app’s impact on its youngest users. The CCDH said the app recommended videos about body image and mental health about every 39 seconds within a 30-minute period. TikTok said it continues to roll out new safeguards for its users, including ways to filter out mature or “potentially problematic” videos. TikTok said it does not allow content depicting, promoting, normalizing, or glorifying activities that could lead to suicide or self-harm. Still, the CCDH says more needs to be done to restrict specific content on TikTok and bolster protections for young users.

☆ U.S. FCC commissioner urges govt action on TikTok -Axios
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - The federal government should take action to rein in online media platform TikTok Inc, one of the U.S. FCC's commissioners said in an interview, Axios reported on Tuesday. "I don’t believe there is a path forward for anything other than a ban," the Federal Communications Commission's Brendan Carr told the news outlet, citing recent revelations about how TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance handle data of U.S. users. Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chris GallagherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Oct 26 (Reuters) - TikTok Inc won dismissal of a lawsuit accusing it of causing the death of a 10-year-old girl by promoting a deadly "blackout challenge" that encouraged people to choke themselves on its video-based social media platform. U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond in Philadelphia ruled Tuesday that the company was immune from the lawsuit under a part of the federal Communications Decency Act that shields publishers of others' work. Jeffrey Goodman, a lawyer for the girl's mother, Tawainna Anderson, said in a statement that the family would "continue to fight to make social media safe so that no other child is killed by the reckless behavior of the social media industry." Anderson sued TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance Inc in May, saying the company's algorithm showed her daughter, Nylah Anderson, a video suggesting the blackout challenge. In December 2021, Nylah attempted the blackout challenge using a purse strap hung in her mother's closet, losing consciousness and suffering severe injuries, according to the lawsuit.

☆ TikTok inching toward U.S. security deal to avoid sale - NYT
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterTikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. TikTok and the Biden administration have drafted a preliminary agreement to resolve national security concerns but are still deciding on a potential agreement, the Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. ByteDance and TikTok did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterTikTok has long faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, who have questioned the Chinese-owned app's safeguards of user data. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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