TikTok is a video sharing social app. Users can create and share short videos containing dances, comedy, lip-syncing or music of up to 15 seconds. The current CEO is Kevin Mayer.
The app uses artificial intelligence to work out which videos will be popular and most likely to generate views. This work by analysing user’s preferences and how they interact with different content. Data gathered is then used to display a content feed that they think the user will be interested in.
TikTok also has several celebrity users including Olly Murs, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheerin, Lewis Capaldi, Justin Bieber and Rita Ora.
Before considering why the US Government threatened to ban TikTok, let’s look exactly what TikTok is and how it became famous.
History of TikTok
TikTok was founded in 2012 in Beijing by ByteDance. However, the app did not become popular until 2018 when it became available in the USA.
The company has offices across the globe in cities including London, Paris, Tokyo, New York and Berlin.
TikTok is available in over 150 markets and in 75 different languages. The app has been downloaded more than 104 million times and in 2018 and 2019 beat Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to be the most downloaded app on the App Store.
TikTok v Trump
In July, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the USA was considering banning the app.
The USA would not be the first country to consider such action. TikTok is already banned in India and the Australian government is also currently looking at banning the app.
The President cited various security concerns claiming the app could be used to collect data from US citizens. He has also claimed that data gathered from the app could be used to spy on or blackmail US organisations. TikTok has denied these claims as well as accusations that it is influenced by the Chinese government.
However software giant Microsoft is in talks to purchase the US operations of TikTok. President Trump has indicated that he may allowed TikTok to remain in the USA if the US version is owned and controlled by a US company. He also argued that the US government should receive a share of the deal.
Microsoft and TikTok have until 15th September to come to an agreement.
It was announced on 22nd August that TikTok is planning to launch legal action against an executive order from President Trump banning the app from September. TikTok’s owner ByteDance has said it wants to ensure that the app and its users are treated fairly and that the law is respected.
TikTok Facts
- TikTok has over 800 million monthly users
- Around half of users are between 18-24 years old
- In the USA over 50% of TikTok users use an iPhone
- TikTok is considered the most valuable start up and is currently valued at $75B
- The most followed TikTok user is Charli D’Amelio with over 80M followers
