User:Bkenny44/TikTok (proposed layout)

{{further|TikTok#Douyin}}

TikTok is an international version of Douyin, which was originally released in the Chinese market in September 2016.{{Cite web|title=TikTok, WeChat and the growing digital divide between the US and China|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/09/22/tiktok-wechat-and-the-growing-digital-divide-between-the-u-s-and-china/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111194424/https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/22/tiktok-wechat-and-the-growing-digital-divide-between-the-u-s-and-china/|archive-date=11 January 2021|access-date=2020-10-12|website=TechCrunch}} TikTok was launched as a separate app in most markets outside of mainland China in September 2017.{{Cite news|title=Tik Tok, a Global Music Video Platform and Social Network, Launches in Indonesia|url=https://en.prnasia.com/releases/apac/Tik_Tok_a_Global_Music_Video_Platform_and_Social_Network_Launches_in_Indonesia-187963.shtml|url-status=live|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615111648/https://en.prnasia.com/releases/apac/Tik_Tok_a_Global_Music_Video_Platform_and_Social_Network_Launches_in_Indonesia-187963.shtml|archive-date=15 June 2018}}

On 9 November 2017, TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, spent up to U.S.$1 billion to purchase musical.ly, a startup headquartered in Shanghai with an overseas office in Santa Monica, California, U.S.{{cite web|last1=Lin|first1=Liza|last2=Winkler|first2=Rolfe|date=9 November 2017|title=Social-Media App Musical.ly Is Acquired for as Much as $1 Billion|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lip-syncing-app-musical-ly-is-acquired-for-as-much-as-1-billion-1510278123|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401173155/https://www.wsj.com/articles/lip-syncing-app-musical-ly-is-acquired-for-as-much-as-1-billion-1510278123|archive-date=1 April 2018|access-date=7 May 2018|website=wsj.com}}{{Cite news|title=Social video app Musical.ly acquired for up to $1 billion|work=Business Insider|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/social-video-app-musically-acquired-for-up-to-1-billion-2017-11?r=US&IR=T|url-status=live|access-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905175724/http://uk.businessinsider.com/social-video-app-musically-acquired-for-up-to-1-billion-2017-11?r=US&IR=T|archive-date=5 September 2018}} Musical.ly was a social media video platform that allowed users to create short lip-sync and comedy videos, initially released in August 2014. It was well known, especially to the younger audience. Looking forward to leveraging the U.S. digital platform's young user base, TikTok merged with musical.ly on 2 August 2018 to create a larger video community, with existing accounts and data consolidated into one app, keeping the title TikTok.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Dami|date=2 August 2018|title=The popular Musical.ly app has been rebranded as TikTok|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/2/17644260/musically-rebrand-tiktok-bytedance-douyin|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230132224/https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/2/17644260/musically-rebrand-tiktok-bytedance-douyin|archive-date=30 December 2020|access-date=21 October 2020}} This ended musical.ly and made TikTok a worldwide app, excluding China, since China already has Douyin.{{cite web|title=Musical.ly Is Going Away: Users to Be Shifted to Bytedance's TikTok Video App|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/musically-is-going-away-users-to-be-shifted-to-bytedance-e2-80-99s-tiktok-video-app/ar-BBLovl1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328142054/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/musically-is-going-away-users-to-be-shifted-to-bytedance-e2-80-99s-tiktok-video-app/ar-BBLovl1|archive-date=28 March 2019|access-date=13 August 2018|website=msn.com}}{{cite web|last=Kundu|first=Kishalaya|date=2 August 2018|title=Musical.ly App To Be Shut Down, Users Will Be Migrated to TikTok|url=https://beebom.com/musical-ly-app-to-be-shut-down-users-will-be-migrated-to-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005154207/https://beebom.com/musical-ly-app-to-be-shut-down-users-will-be-migrated-to-tiktok/|archive-date=5 October 2019|access-date=30 April 2019|website=Beebom}} TikTok was launched for iOS and Android.

On 23 January 2018, the TikTok app ranked first among free application downloads on app stores in Thailand and other countries.{{cite web|title=Tik Tok, Global Short Video Community launched in Thailand with the latest AI feature, GAGA Dance Machine The very first short video app with a new function based on AI technology|url=http://thailand.shafaqna.com/EN/TH/738296|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010511/http://thailand.shafaqna.com/EN/TH/738296|archive-date=10 March 2018|access-date=15 March 2018|website=thailand.shafaqna.com}}

Since its launch in 2016, TikTok/Douyin rapidly gained popularity in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the United States, Turkey, Russia, and other parts of the world.{{cite web|date=11 January 2019|title=50 TikTok Stats That Will Blow Your Mind [Updated 2020]|url=https://influencermarketinghub.com/tiktok-stats/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604073536/https://influencermarketinghub.com/tiktok-stats/|archive-date=4 June 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Influencer Marketing Hub}}{{cite web|author1=RouteBot|date=21 March 2020|title=Top 10 Countries with the Largest Number of TikTok Users|url=https://www.brandsynario.com/tik-tok-download/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220043546/https://www.brandsynario.com/tik-tok-download/|archive-date=20 December 2019|access-date=27 May 2020|website=routenote.com}}

After merging with musical.ly in August, downloads increased and TikTok became the most downloaded app in the U.S. in October 2018, which musical.ly had done once before.{{cite web|title=Tik Tok, a Global Music Video Platform and Social Network, Launches in Indonesia-PR Newswire APAC|url=https://en.prnasia.com/story/187963-0.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925203535/http://en.prnasia.com/story/187963-0.shtml|archive-date=25 September 2017|access-date=5 January 2019|website=en.prnasia.com}}{{Cite news|date=25 February 2018|title=How Douyin became China's top short-video App in 500 days – WalktheChat|work=WalktheChat|url=https://walkthechat.com/douyin-became-chinas-top-short-video-app-500-days/|url-status=live|access-date=15 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329025317/https://walkthechat.com/douyin-became-chinas-top-short-video-app-500-days/|archive-date=29 March 2019}} In February 2019, TikTok, together with Douyin, hit one billion downloads globally, excluding Android installs in China.{{cite news|title=TikTok Pte. Ltd.|work=Sensortower|url=https://sensortower.com/ios/publisher/publisher/1322881000|url-status=live|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524013144/https://sensortower.com/ios/publisher/publisher/1322881000|archive-date=24 May 2019}} In 2019, media outlets cited TikTok as the 7th-most-downloaded mobile app of the decade, from 2010 to 2019.{{cite web|last=Rayome|first=Alison DeNisco|title=Facebook was the most-downloaded app of the decade|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/10-most-downloaded-apps-of-the-decade-facebook-dominated-2010-2019/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218120846/https://www.cnet.com/news/10-most-downloaded-apps-of-the-decade-facebook-dominated-2010-2019/|archive-date=18 December 2019|access-date=18 December 2019|website=CNET}} It was also the most-downloaded app on Apple's App Store in 2018 and 2019, surpassing Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.{{Cite news|last=Chen|first=Qian|date=18 September 2018|title=The biggest trend in Chinese social media is dying, and another has already taken its place|work=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/19/short-video-apps-like-douyin-tiktok-are-dominating-chinese-screens.html|url-status=live|access-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116085446/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/19/short-video-apps-like-douyin-tiktok-are-dominating-chinese-screens.html|archive-date=16 November 2018}}{{cite news|title=TikTok surpassed Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat & YouTube in downloads last month|newspaper=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/02/tiktok-surpassed-facebook-instagram-snapchat-youtube-in-downloads-last-month/|url-status=live|access-date=10 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211095541/https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/02/tiktok-surpassed-facebook-instagram-snapchat-youtube-in-downloads-last-month/|archive-date=11 December 2018}}

As of 2018, TikTok was available in more than 150 markets, and in 75 languages.{{cite web|title=Chinese video sharing app boasts 500 mln monthly active users - Xinhua | English.news.cn|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/17/c_137330644.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010150345/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/17/c_137330644.htm|archive-date=10 October 2018|access-date=29 October 2018|website=xinhuanet.com}}{{cite news|date=13 June 2018|title=Why China's Viral Video App Douyin is No Good for Luxury {{!}} Jing Daily|work=Jing Daily|url=https://jingdaily.com/douyin-not-for-luxury-brands/|url-status=live|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212084421/https://jingdaily.com/douyin-not-for-luxury-brands/|archive-date=12 December 2018}} TikTok was downloaded more than 104 million times on Apple's App store during the full first half of 2018, according to data provided to CNBC by Sensor Tower.

In July 2020, TikTok, excluding Douyin, reported close to 800 million monthly active users worldwide after less than four years of existence.

In the United States, celebrities, including Jimmy Fallon and Tony Hawk, began using the app in 2018.{{cite web|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=15 November 2018|title=TikTok surges past 6M downloads in the US as celebrities join the app|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/15/18095446/tiktok-jimmy-fallon-tony-hawk-downloads-revenue|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224105355/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/15/18095446/tiktok-jimmy-fallon-tony-hawk-downloads-revenue|archive-date=24 December 2018|access-date=3 January 2019|website=The Verge}}{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=20 November 2018|title=TikTok App Nears 80 Million U.S. Downloads After Phasing Out Musical.ly, Lands Jimmy Fallon as Fan|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/tiktok-jimmy-fallon-musically-app-downloads-1203032629/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102085913/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/tiktok-jimmy-fallon-musically-app-downloads-1203032629/|archive-date=2 January 2019|access-date=3 January 2019|website=Variety}} Other celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, Will Smith, and Justin Bieber joined TikTok as well and many other celebrities have followed.{{cite web|title=A-Rod & J.Lo, Reese Witherspoon and the Rest of the A-List Celebs You Should Be Following on TikTok|url=https://people.com/celebrity/celebrities-on-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528054649/https://people.com/celebrity/celebrities-on-tiktok/|archive-date=28 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=PEOPLE.com}}

On 3 September 2019, TikTok and the U.S. National Football League (NFL) announced a multi-year partnership.{{cite web|title=The NFL joins TikTok in multi-year partnership|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2019/09/03/the-nfl-joins-tiktok-in-multi-year-partnership/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023621/https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/03/the-nfl-joins-tiktok-in-multi-year-partnership/|archive-date=22 August 2020|access-date=5 September 2019|website=TechCrunch}} The agreement occurred just two days before the NFL's 100th season kick-off at Soldier Field, where TikTok hosted activities for fans in honor of the deal. The partnership entails the launch of an official NFL TikTok account, which is to bring about new marketing opportunities such as sponsored videos and hashtag challenges.

As of October 2020, TikTok has been downloaded more than 130 million times in the United States, and has reached 2 billion downloads worldwide,{{cite web|last1=Carman|first1=Ashley|date=29 April 2020|title=TikTok reaches 2 billion downloads|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/29/21241788/tiktok-app-download-numbers-update-2-billion-users|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729003408/https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/29/21241788/tiktok-app-download-numbers-update-2-billion-users|archive-date=29 July 2020|access-date=1 August 2020|website=The Verge}}{{cite web|last1=Doyle|first1=Brandon|date=6 October 2020|title=TikTok Statistics - Everything You Need to Know [Sept 2020 Update]|url=https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/#:~:text=Total%20App%20Downloads%20%E2%80%93%20The%20TikTok,Tower%200n%20April%2029%2C%202020.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806153343/https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/#:~:text=Total%20App%20Downloads%20%E2%80%93%20The%20TikTok,Tower%200n%20April%2029%2C%202020.|archive-date=6 August 2020|access-date=21 November 2020|website=Wallaroo Media}} according to data from mobile research firm Sensor Tower (those numbers exclude Android users in China).{{cite web|last=Yurieff|first=Kaya|date=21 November 2018|title=TikTok is the latest social network sensation|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/21/tech/tiktok-app/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104123943/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/21/tech/tiktok-app/index.html|archive-date=4 January 2019|website=Cnn.com}}

In November 2020, TikTok signed a licensing deal with Sony Music.{{Cite web|title=TikTok signs deal with Sony Music to expand music library|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tiktok-signs-deal-sony-music-170116348.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111145248/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tiktok-signs-deal-sony-music-170116348.html|archive-date=11 November 2020|access-date=2020-11-06|website=finance.yahoo.com}} In December 2020, Warner Music Group signed a licensing deal with TikTok.{{Cite web|date=4 January 2021|title=Warner Music Group inks licensing deal with TikTok|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/warner-music-group-inks-licensing-deal-with-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111092629/https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/warner-music-group-inks-licensing-deal-with-tiktok/|archive-date=11 January 2021|access-date=11 January 2021|website=Music Business Worldwide}}{{cite web|date=7 January 2021|title=Warner Music signs with TikTok as more record companies jump on social media bandwagon|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/warner-music-tiktok-deal/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429070202/https://themusicnetwork.com/warner-music-tiktok-deal/|archive-date=29 April 2021|access-date=2021-01-07|website=themusicnetwork.com}}{{cite web|title=Warner Music Group: Modernized And Ready To Play In The New Streaming World|url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4419318-warner-music-tuned-up-for-new-streaming-world|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415224425/https://seekingalpha.com/article/4419318-warner-music-tuned-up-for-new-streaming-world|archive-date=15 April 2021|access-date=2021-04-15|website=seekingalpha.com}}

In April 2021, Abu Dhabi's department of Culture and Tourism partnered with TikTok to promote tourism.{{cite web|url=https://tcaabudhabi.ae/en/media.centre/news/the.department.of.culture.and.tourism.abu.dhabi.partners.with.tiktok.for.destination.promotion.aspx|title=The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi Partners with TikTok for Destination Promotion|accessdate=27 April 2021|website=Department of Culture and Tourism|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504060212/https://tcaabudhabi.ae/en/media.centre/news/the.department.of.culture.and.tourism.abu.dhabi.partners.with.tiktok.for.destination.promotion.aspx|url-status=live}} It came following the January 2021 winter campaign, initiated through a partnership between the UAE Government Media Office partnered and TikTok to promote the country's tourism.{{cite web|url=https://campaignme.com/the-uae-government-media-office-and-tiktok-bring-people-together-to-discover-the-uaes-hidden-gems-in-worlds-coolest-winter/|title=The UAE Government Media Office and TikTok bring people together to discover the UAE's hidden gems in World's Coolest Winter|accessdate=14 January 2021|website=Campaign Middle East|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114062103/https://campaignme.com/the-uae-government-media-office-and-tiktok-bring-people-together-to-discover-the-uaes-hidden-gems-in-worlds-coolest-winter/|url-status=live}}

The TikTok mobile app allows users to create short videos, which often feature music in the background and can be sped up, slowed down, or edited with a filter.{{Cite news|title=How to Use TikTok: Tips for New Users|work=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-tik-tok/|url-status=live|access-date=27 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814235926/https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-tik-tok/|archive-date=14 August 2019|issn=1059-1028}}

Users can also add videos, hashtags, filters, and sounds to their "saved" section. When creating a video, they can refer to their saved section, or create a video straight from it. This section is visible only to the user on their profile allowing them to refer to any video, hashtag, filter, or sound they've previously saved.

Videos that users do not want to post yet can be stored in their "drafts". The user is allowed to see their "drafts" and post when they find it fitting.{{cite web|last=Liao|first=Christina|title=How to make and find drafts on TikTok using your iPhone or Android|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-to-drafts-on-tiktok|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426172302/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-to-drafts-on-tiktok|archive-date=26 April 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Business Insider}}

The "For You" page on TikTok is a feed of videos that are recommended to users based on their activity on the app. Content is generated by TikTok's artificial intelligence (AI) depending on the content a user liked, interacted with, or searched. Users can also choose to add to favorites or select "not interested" on videos for their page. TikTok combines the user's enjoyed content to provide videos that they would also enjoy. Users and their content can only be featured on the "for you" page if they are 16 or over as per TikTok policy. Users under 16 will not show up under the "for you" page, the sounds page, or under any hashtags.{{cite web|date=31 January 2019|title=TikTok Restricts Users Under 16 From Being Discovered|url=http://vm.tiktok.com/R9KGdN/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716192803/http://vm.tiktok.com/R9KGdN/|archive-date=16 July 2019|access-date=16 July 2019|website=TikTok}}

When users follow other users, a "following" page is located on the left of the "for you" page. This is a page only to see the videos from the accounts a user follows.

Users can add their own sound on top of the background music. To create a music video with the app, users can choose background music from a wide variety of music genres, edit with a filter and record a 15-second video with speed adjustments before uploading it to share with others on TikTok or other social platforms.{{Cite news|last=Matsakis|first=Louise|date=6 March 2019|title=How to Use TikTok: Tips for New Users|work=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-tik-tok/|url-status=live|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814235926/https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-tik-tok/|archive-date=14 August 2019|issn=1059-1028}} They can also film short lip-sync videos to popular songs.

The app's "react" feature allows users to film their reaction to a specific video, over which it is placed in a small window that is movable around the screen.{{Cite news|title=TikTok adds video reactions to its newly-merged app|work=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/03/tiktok-reactions/|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120140013/https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/03/tiktok-reactions/|archive-date=20 November 2018}} Its "duet" feature allows users to film a video aside another video.{{cite web|title=Tik Tok lets you duet with yourself, a pal, or a celebrity|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/lifestyle/30346044|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626182740/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/lifestyle/30346044|archive-date=26 June 2019|access-date=24 May 2019|website=The Nation}} The "duet" feature was another trademark of Musical.ly. The duet feature is also only able to be used if both parties adjust the privacy settings.{{Cite web|last=Weir|first=Melanie|title=How to duet on TikTok and record a video alongside someone else's|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-duet-on-tiktok|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}

TikTok has also included a feature to create a video based on the user's comments.

Influencers often use the "live" feature. This feature is only available for those who have at least 1,000 followers and are over 16 years old. If over 18, the user's followers can send virtual "gifts" that can be later exchanged for money.{{cite web|last=Delfino|first=Devon|title=How to 'go live' on TikTok and livestream video to your followers|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-go-live-on-tiktok|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528175142/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-go-live-on-tiktok|archive-date=28 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Business Insider}}{{cite web|title=How To Go Live & Stream on TikTok|url=https://social.techjunkie.com/tiktok-go-live-stream/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023621/https://social.techjunkie.com/tiktok-go-live-stream/|archive-date=22 August 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Tech Junkie}}

One of the newest features as of 2020 is the "Virtual Items" of "Small Gestures" feature. This is based on China's big practice of social gifting. Since this feature was added, many beauty companies and brands created a TikTok account to participate and advertise this feature. With quarantine in the United States, social gifting has grown in popularity. According to a TikTok representative, the campaign was launched as a result of the lockdown, "to build a sense of support and encouragement with the TikTok community during these tough times."{{Cite web|date=7 May 2020|title=TikTok's social gifting campaign attracts beauty brands|url=https://www.glossy.co/beauty/tiktoks-social-gifting-campaign-attracts-beauty-brands|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612174934/https://www.glossy.co/beauty/tiktoks-social-gifting-campaign-attracts-beauty-brands|archive-date=12 June 2020|access-date=12 June 2020|website=Glossy}}

Users can also send their friends videos, emojis, and messages with direct messaging.

In October 2021, TikTok launched a test feature that allows users to directly tip certain creators. Accounts of users that are of age, have at least 100,000 followers and agree to the terms can activate a "Tip" button on their profile, which allows followers to tip any amount, starting from $1.{{Cite web |last=Keck |first=Catie |title=TikTok is testing a new tipping feature for some creators |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/28/22751715/tiktok-new-tips-feature-creators |date=2021-10-28 |access-date=2021-10-29 |website=TheVerge |language=en-US}}

The app allows users to set their accounts as "private." When first downloading the app, the user's account is public by default. The user can change to private in their settings. Private content remains visible to TikTok, but is blocked from TikTok users who the account holder has not authorized to view their content.{{cite web|title=It's time to pay serious attention to TikTok|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2019/01/29/its-time-to-pay-serious-attention-to-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023621/https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/29/its-time-to-pay-serious-attention-to-tiktok/|archive-date=22 August 2020|access-date=24 May 2019|website=TechCrunch}} Users can choose whether any other user, or only their "friends", may interact with them through the app via comments, messages, or "react" or "duet" videos. Users also can set specific videos to either "public", "friends only", or "private" regardless if the account is private or not.

Users are also allowed to report accounts depending on the account's content, either being spam or inappropriate. In TikTok's support center under "For Parents," they reassure the parents that inappropriate content for their children can be blocked and reported.{{cite web|title=Support Center | TikTok|url=https://support.tiktok.com/en/privacy-safety/for-parents-en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424184447/https://support.tiktok.com/en/privacy-safety/for-parents-en|archive-date=24 April 2020|access-date=25 May 2020|website=support.tiktok.com}}

TikTok announced a "family safety mode" in February 2020 for parents to be able to control their children's digital well-being. There is a screen time management option, restricted mode, and can put a limit on direct messages.{{cite web|date=16 August 2019|title=Introducing Family Safety Mode and Screentime Management in Feed|url=https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/family-safety-mode-and-screentime-management-in-feed/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503004640/https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/family-safety-mode-and-screentime-management-in-feed|archive-date=3 May 2020|access-date=1 June 2020|website=Newsroom {{!}} TikTok}}{{cite news|date=19 February 2020|title=TikTok gives parent remote control of child's app|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51561050|url-status=live|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530224001/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51561050|archive-date=30 May 2020}}

The app expanded its parental controls feature called "Family Pairing" in September 2020 to provide parents and guardians with educational resources to understand what children on TikTok are exposed to. Content for the feature was created in partnership with online safety nonprofit, Internet Matters.{{Cite web|title=TikTok adds educational resources for parents as part of its Family Pairing feature|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2021/09/01/tiktok-adds-educational-resources-for-parents-as-part-of-its-family-pairing-feature/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}

{{see|TikTok food trends}}

Trends are shown on TikTok's explore page or the page with the search logo. The page enlists the trending hashtags and challenges among the app. Some include #posechallenge, #filterswitch, #dontjudgemechallenge, #homedecor, #hitormiss, #bottlecapchallenge and more. In June 2019, the company introduced the hashtag #EduTok which received 37 billion views. Following this development, the company initiated partnerships with edtech startups to create educational content on the platform.{{cite news|last1=Mandavia|first1=Megha|title=TikTok ties up with edtech startups for content creation|newspaper=The Economic Times|url=https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/tiktok-ties-up-with-edtech-startups-for-content-creation/70991509|url-status=live|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023624/https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/tiktok-ties-up-with-edtech-startups-for-content-creation/70991509|archive-date=22 August 2020}}

A variety of trends have risen within TikTok, including memes, lip-synced songs, and comedy videos. Duets, a feature that allows users to add their own video to an existing video with the original content's audio, have sparked many of these trends. Several food trends have emerged on the platform, such as Dalgona coffee.

The app has spawned numerous viral trends, Internet celebrities, and music trends around the world.{{cite web|title=How Does Tik Tok Outperform Tencent's Super App WeChat and Become One of China's Most Popular Apps? (Part 1)|url=https://kr-asia.com/bytedance-general-manager-zhang-nan-tik-tok-meshes-with-chinas-consumption-upgrade-trends/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711025929/https://kr-asia.com/bytedance-general-manager-zhang-nan-tik-tok-meshes-with-chinas-consumption-upgrade-trends/|archive-date=11 July 2018|access-date=29 October 2018|website=kr-asia.com|date=26 March 2018}} Many stars got their start on musical.ly, which merged with TikTok on 2 August 2018. These users include Loren Gray, Baby Ariel, Kristen Hancher, Zach King, Lisa and Lena, Jacob Sartorius, and many others. Loren Gray remained the most-followed individual on TikTok until Charli D'Amelio surpassed her on 25 March 2020. Gray's was the first TikTok account to reach 40 million followers on the platform. She was surpassed with 41.3 million followers. D'Amelio was the first to ever reach 50, 60, and 70 million followers. Until now Charli D'Amelio remains the most-followed individual on the platform. Other creators rose to fame after the platform merged with musical.ly on 2 August 2018.{{cite web|title=TikTok Star Charli D'Amelio Officially Leaves the Hype House|url=https://people.com/tv/tik-tok-charli-damelio-leave-hype-house/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513184350/https://people.com/tv/tik-tok-charli-damelio-leave-hype-house/|archive-date=13 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=PEOPLE.com}}

TikTok has provided a platform for users to create content not only for fun, but also for money. As the platform has grown significantly over the past few years, it has allowed companies to advertise and rapidly reach their intended demographic through influencer marketing.{{Cite web|last=Dilon|first=Cell|date=2020|title=TikTok Influences on Teenagers and Young Adults Students: The Common Usages of the Application TikTok|url=https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/download/5917/2148/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120004216/https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/download/5917/2148/|archive-date=20 November 2020|access-date=23 November 2020|website=American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences}} The platform's AI algorithm also contributes to the influencer marketing potential, as it picks out content according to the user's preference.{{Cite journal|last1=Haenlein|first1=Michael|last2=Anadol|first2=Ertan|last3=Farnsworth|first3=Tyler|last4=Hugo|first4=Harry|last5=Hunichen|first5=Jess|last6=Welte|first6=Diana|date=2020-10-13|title=Navigating the New Era of Influencer Marketing: How to be Successful on Instagram, TikTok, & Co.|journal=California Management Review|volume=63|pages=5–25|doi=10.1177/0008125620958166|doi-access=free|s2cid=222347758}} Sponsored content is not as prevalent on the platform as it is on other social media apps, but brands and influencers still can make as much as they would if not more in comparison to other platforms. Influencers on the platform who earn money through engagement, such as likes and comments, are referred to as "meme machines".

In 2021, The New York Times reported that viral TikTok videos by young people relating the emotional impact of books on them, tagged with the label "BookTok", significantly drove sales of literature. Publishers were increasingly using the platform as a venue for influencer marketing.{{Cite news|last=Harris|first=Elizabeth A.|date=2021-03-20|title=How Crying on TikTok Sells Books|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/20/books/booktok-tiktok-video.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321184118/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/20/books/booktok-tiktok-video.html|archive-date=21 March 2021|issn=0362-4331}}

One notable TikTok trend is the "hit or miss" meme, which begain from a snippet of iLOVEFRiDAY's song "Mia Khalifa." The song has been used in over four million TikTok videos and helped introduce the app to a larger Western audience.{{cite web|date=12 March 2020|title=TikTok's Renegade dance : An internet success across the United States|url=https://us.blastingnews.com/opinion/2020/03/tiktoks-renegade-dance-an-internet-success-across-the-united-states-003085731.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920194544/https://us.blastingnews.com/opinion/2020/03/tiktoks-renegade-dance-an-internet-success-across-the-united-states-003085731.html|archive-date=20 September 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Blasting News}}{{cite web|date=12 February 2019|title=How TikTok Gets Rich While Paying Artists Pennies|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/the-great-music-meme-scam-how-tiktok-gets-rich-while-paying-artists-pennies/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526211142/https://pitchfork.com/features/article/the-great-music-meme-scam-how-tiktok-gets-rich-while-paying-artists-pennies/|archive-date=26 May 2019|access-date=20 May 2019|website=Pitchfork}} TikTok also played a major part in making "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X one of the biggest songs of 2019 and the longest running number-one song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100.{{Citation|last=Coscarelli|first=Joe|title=How Lil Nas X Took 'Old Town Road' From TikTok Meme to No. 1 {{!}} Diary of a Song|date=9 May 2019|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptKqFafZgCk|work=The New York Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153141/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptKqFafZgCk|access-date=26 November 2019|archive-date=10 November 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Koble|first=Nicole|date=28 October 2019|title=TikTok is changing music as you know it|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/what-is-tiktok|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123115730/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/what-is-tiktok|archive-date=23 November 2019|access-date=26 November 2019|website=British GQ}}{{cite web|last=Leskin|first=Paige|date=22 August 2019|title=The life and rise of Lil Nas X, the 'Old Town Road' singer who went viral on TikTok and just celebrated Amazon Prime Day with Jeff Bezos|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-tiktok-life-rise-bio-2019-8|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914003241/https://www.businessinsider.com/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-tiktok-life-rise-bio-2019-8|archive-date=14 September 2019|access-date=26 November 2019|website=Business Insider}}{{cite web|last=Spanos|first=Brittany|date=December 2019|title=How Lil Nas X and 'Old Town Road' Defy Categorization|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-american-ingenuity-180973492/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119070033/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-american-ingenuity-180973492/|archive-date=19 November 2019|access-date=26 November 2019|website=Smithsonian}}{{cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Gerrick D.|date=20 November 2019|title=Lil Nas X makes Grammy history as the first openly gay rapper nominated in top categories|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-11-20/grammy-nominations-2020-lil-nas-x-old-town-road|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127045635/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-11-20/grammy-nominations-2020-lil-nas-x-old-town-road|archive-date=27 November 2019|access-date=26 November 2019|website=Los Angeles Times}}

TikTok has allowed many other bands to gain a wider audience, often including foreign fans. For example, despite never having toured in Asia, the band Fitz and the Tantrums developed a large following in South Korea following the widespread popularity of their song "HandClap" on the platform.{{cite news|last=Shaw|first=Lucas|title=TikTok Is the New Music Kingmaker, and Labels Want to Get Paid|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-10/tiktok-is-the-new-music-kingmaker-and-labels-want-to-get-paid|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414113435/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-10/tiktok-is-the-new-music-kingmaker-and-labels-want-to-get-paid|archive-date=14 April 2020|access-date=22 April 2020|website=Bloomberg.com|date=10 May 2019}} "Any Song" by R&B and rap artist Zico became number one on the Korean music charts due to the popularity of the #anysongchallenge, where users dance the choreography of "Any Song".{{cite web|title='Any Song' is a viral hit thanks to TikTok challenge: Rapper Zico's catchy song and dance have become a craze all around the world|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/01/23/etc/Any-Song-is-a-viral-hit-thanks-to-TikTok-challenge-Rapper-Zicos-catchy-song-and-dance-have-become-a-craze-all-around-the-world/3072996.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605081148/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/01/23/etc/Any-Song-is-a-viral-hit-thanks-to-TikTok-challenge-Rapper-Zicos-catchy-song-and-dance-have-become-a-craze-all-around-the-world/3072996.html|archive-date=5 June 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=koreajoongangdaily.joins.com}} The platform has received some criticism for not paying royalties to artists whose music is used on their platform. In 2020, more than 176 different songs surpassed 1 billion video views on TikTok.{{Cite web|date=16 August 2019|title=Year on TikTok: Music 2020|url=https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/year-on-tiktok-music-2020|website=TikTok}}

On 10 August 2020, Emily Jacobssen wrote and sang "Ode To Remy," a song praising the protagonist from Pixar's 2007 computer-animated film named Ratatouille. The song rose to popularity when musician Daniel Mertzlufft composed a backing track to the song. In response, began creating a "crowdsourced" project called Ratatouille The Musical. Since Mertzlufft's video, many new elements including costume design, additional songs, and a playbill have been created.{{cite web|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Felicia|date=21 November 2020|title=Presenting: The Official (Fake) Ratatouille Playbill|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/presenting-the-official-fake-ratatouille-playbill|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101205801/https://www.playbill.com/article/presenting-the-official-fake-ratatouille-playbill|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=2020-11-30|website=Playbill}} The trend has been even been noticed by Lou Romano, who voiced Alfredo Linguini in the original film; Broadway performer Kevin Chamberlin; and Disney Channel actor Milo Manheim. On 1 January 2021, a full one-hour virtual presentation of Ratatouille the Musical premiered on the TodayTix. The production featured elements created via TikTok. It starred Titus Burgess as Remy, Wayne Brady as Django, Adam Lambert as Emile, Chamberlin as Gusteau, Andrew Barth Feldman as Linguini, Ashley Park as Colette, Priscilla Lopez as Mabel, Mary Testa as Skinner, and André De Shields as Ego.

In October 2020, the ecommerce platform Shopify added TikTok to its portfolio of social media platforms, allowing online merchants to sell their products directly to consumers on TikTok.{{Cite news|last1=Bradshaw|first1=Tim|last2=Murphy|first2=Hannah|date=27 October 2020|title=TikTok moves into social ecommerce with Shopify deal|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f11fe4a8-84ea-4f11-aa94-79fe8ed0688e|url-status=live|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212035054/https://www.ft.com/content/f11fe4a8-84ea-4f11-aa94-79fe8ed0688e|archive-date=12 February 2021}}

Some small businesses have used TikTok to advertise and to reach an audience wider than the geographical region they would normally serve. The viral response to many small business TikTok videos has been attributed to TikTok's algorithm, which shows content that viewers at large are drawn to, but which they are unlikely to actively search for (such as videos on unconventional types of businesses, like beekeeping and logging).{{cite web|last1=Kastrenakes|first1=Jacob|date=21 September 2020|title=Boring, mundane businesses have an exhilarating, viral life on TikTok|url=https://www.theverge.com/21440183/tiktok-small-local-business-landscaping-beekeeping-home-renovation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323002704/https://www.theverge.com/21440183/tiktok-small-local-business-landscaping-beekeeping-home-renovation/|archive-date=23 March 2021|access-date=24 February 2021|website=The Verge}}

In 2020, digital media companies such as Group Nine Media and Global used TikTok increasingly, focusing on tactics such as brokering partnerships with TikTok influencers and developing branded content campaigns.{{Cite news|last1=Barber|first1=Kayleigh|last2=Joseph|first2=Seb|date=23 November 2020|title='There's more opportunity': Publishers on TikTok are taking branded content into their own hands|work=Digiday|url=https://digiday.com/marketing/theres-more-opportunity-publishers-on-tiktok-are-taking-branded-content-into-their-own-hands/|url-status=live|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123182643/https://digiday.com/marketing/theres-more-opportunity-publishers-on-tiktok-are-taking-branded-content-into-their-own-hands/|archive-date=23 January 2021}} Notable collaborations between larger brands and top TikTok influencers have included Chipotle's partnership with David Dobrik in May 2019{{Cite news|last=Ciment|first=Shoshy|date=26 April 2020|title=How Chipotle became one of the highest performing brands on TikTok by dominating user challenges and partnering with influencers like David Dobrik|work=Business Insider|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-tiktok-strategy-includes-influencers-paid-content-guacamole-2020-4|url-status=live|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208182010/https://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-tiktok-strategy-includes-influencers-paid-content-guacamole-2020-4|archive-date=8 February 2021}} and Dunkin' Donuts' partnership with Charli D'Amelio in September 2020.{{Cite news|last=Guszkowski|first=Joe|date=4 October 2020|title=TikTok proves potent marketing channel for some restaurants|work=Restaurant Business|url=https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/technology/tiktok-proves-potent-marketing-channel-some-restaurants|url-status=live|access-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101051319/https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/technology/tiktok-proves-potent-marketing-channel-some-restaurants|archive-date=1 November 2020}}

In June 2020, TikTok users and K-pop fans "claimed to have registered potentially hundreds of thousands of tickets" for President Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa through communication on TikTok,{{cite web|date=21 June 2020|title=TikTok Teens and K-Pop Stans Say They Sank Trump Rally|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/style/tiktok-trump-rally-tulsa.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622000614/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/style/tiktok-trump-rally-tulsa.html|archive-date=22 June 2020|access-date=22 June 2020|work=The New York Times}} contributing to "rows of empty seats"{{cite web|date=21 June 2020|title=The President's Shock at the Rows of Empty Seats in Tulsa|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/us/politics/trump-tulsa-rally.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621234822/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/us/politics/trump-tulsa-rally.html|archive-date=21 June 2020|access-date=22 June 2020|work=The New York Times}} at the event.

TikTok has banned Holocaust denial, but other conspiracy theories have become popular on the platform, such as Pizzagate and QAnon (two conspiracy theories popular among the U.S. alt-right) whose hashtags reached almost 80 million views and 50 million views respectively by June 2020.{{Cite web|last=Dellinger|first=A. J.|date=22 June 2020|title=Conspiracy theories are finding a hungry audience on TikTok|url=https://www.mic.com/p/conspiracy-theories-are-finding-a-hungry-audience-on-tiktok-23620372|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708121051/https://www.mic.com/p/conspiracy-theories-are-finding-a-hungry-audience-on-tiktok-23620372|archive-date=8 July 2020|access-date=24 June 2020|website=Mic}} The platform has also been used to spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, such as clips from Plandemic. TikTok removed some of these videos, and has generally added links to accurate COVID-19 information on videos with tags related to the pandemic.{{Cite news|last=Strapagiel|first=Lauren|date=27 May 2020|title=COVID-19 Conspiracy Theorists Have Found A New Home On TikTok|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/pandemic-conspiracy-theorists-disinformation-tiktok|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622011451/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/pandemic-conspiracy-theorists-disinformation-tiktok|archive-date=22 June 2020|access-date=24 June 2020|website=BuzzFeed News}}

{{See also|List of most-followed TikTok accounts}}

TikTok tends to appeal to younger users, as 41% of its users are between the ages of 16 and 24. Among these TikTok users, 90% say they use the app daily.{{cite web|last=Meola|first=Andrew|title=Analyzing Tik Tok user growth and usage patterns in 2020|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-marketing-trends-predictions-2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225032607/https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-marketing-trends-predictions-2020|archive-date=25 February 2020|access-date=2 March 2020|website=Business Insider}} TikTok's geographical use has shown that 43% of new users are from India.{{cite web|date=7 March 2019|title=13 TikTok Stats for Marketers: TikTok Demographics, Statistics, & Key Data|url=https://mediakix.com/blog/top-tik-tok-statistics-demographics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204072918/https://mediakix.com/blog/top-tik-tok-statistics-demographics/|archive-date=4 December 2019|access-date=5 December 2019|website=Mediakix}} As of July 2020, there were over 90 million monthly active users in the United States alone.{{Cite web|last=Sherman|first=Alex|date=24 August 2020|title=TikTok reveals detailed user numbers for the first time|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/24/tiktok-reveals-us-global-user-growth-numbers-for-first-time.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101091643/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/24/tiktok-reveals-us-global-user-growth-numbers-for-first-time.html|archive-date=1 January 2021|access-date=14 September 2020|website=CNBC}}

Popular TikTok users have lived collectively in collab houses, predominately in the Los Angeles area.{{cite news|author=Taylor Lorenz|date=3 January 2020|title=Hype House and the Los Angeles Tik Tok Mansion Gold Rush|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/style/hype-house-los-angeles-tik-tok.html|accessdate=26 May 2021}}

TikTok and Douyin have almost the same user interface but no access to each other's content. Their servers are each based in the market where the respective app is available.{{cite news|date=16 May 2019|title=Forget The Trade War. TikTok Is China's Most Important Export Right Now.|work=BuzzFeed News|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/forget-the-trade-war-tiktok-is-chinas-most-important-export|url-status=live|access-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524023340/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/forget-the-trade-war-tiktok-is-chinas-most-important-export|archive-date=24 May 2019}} The two products are similar, but features are not identical. Douyin includes an in-video search feature that can search by people's faces for more videos of them and other features such as buying, booking hotels and making geo-tagged reviews.{{Cite web|last=Niewenhuis|first=Lucas|date=2019-09-25|title=The difference between TikTok and Douyin|url=https://supchina.com/2019/09/25/the-difference-between-tiktok-and-douyin/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927210034/https://supchina.com/2019/09/25/the-difference-between-tiktok-and-douyin/|archive-date=27 September 2020|access-date=2020-10-12|website=SupChina}}

Douyin was launched by ByteDance in Beijing, China in September 2016, originally under the name A.me, before rebranding to Douyin ({{lang|zh|抖音}}) in December 2016.{{cite news|date=20 February 2018|title=The App That Launched a Thousand Memes {{!}} Sixth Tone|work=Sixth Tone|url=http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001728/the-app-that-launched-a-thousand-memes|url-status=live|access-date=2 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223191256/http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1001728/the-app-that-launched-a-thousand-memes|archive-date=23 February 2018}}{{Cite news|date=11 March 2018|title=Is Douyin the Right Social Video Platform for Luxury Brands? {{!}} Jing Daily|work=Jing Daily|url=https://jingdaily.com/douyin-luxury-brands/|url-status=live|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915044636/https://jingdaily.com/douyin-luxury-brands/|archive-date=15 September 2019}} ByteDance planned on Douyin expanding overseas. The founder of ByteDance, Zhang Yiming, stated that "China is home to only one-fifth of Internet users globally. If we don't expand on a global scale, we are bound to lose to peers eyeing the four-fifths. So, going global is a must."{{cite web|title=TIKTOK'S RISE TO GLOBAL MARKETS 1|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340547035|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023625/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340547035_TIKTOK%27S_RISE_TO_GLOBAL_MARKETS_1|archive-date=22 August 2020|access-date=7 June 2020}} Douyin was developed in 200 days and within a year had 100 million users, with more than one billion videos viewed every day.{{cite web|last=Graziani|first=Thomas|date=30 July 2018|title=How Douyin became China's top short-video App in 500 days|url=https://walkthechat.com/douyin-became-chinas-top-short-video-app-500-days/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329025317/https://walkthechat.com/douyin-became-chinas-top-short-video-app-500-days/|archive-date=29 March 2019|access-date=3 January 2019|website=WalktheChat}}{{cite web|date=15 June 2018|title=8 Lessons from the rise of Douyin (Tik Tok) · TechNode|url=https://technode.com/2018/06/15/8-lessons-douyin/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311192049/https://technode.com/2018/06/15/8-lessons-douyin/|archive-date=11 March 2019|access-date=3 January 2019|website=TechNode}}

In May 2021, TikTok appointed Shou Zi Chew as their new CEO.{{Cite web|title=TikTok Names ByteDance CFO Shou Zi Chew as New CEO|url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-bytedance-cfo-singapore-kevin-mayer-2425785|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501165549/https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-bytedance-cfo-singapore-kevin-mayer-2425785|archive-date=1 May 2021|access-date=2021-05-01|website=NDTV Gadgets 360}} He assumed the position from interim CEO Vanessa Pappas, following the resignation of Kevin A. Mayer on 27 August 2020.{{cite news|author=|date=27 August 2020|title=TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer quits after 4 months|work=Fortune (magazine)|publisher=Bloomberg News|url=https://fortune.com/2020/08/27/tiktok-ceo-kevin-mayer-quits-us-sale|url-status=live|access-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025121635/https://fortune.com/2020/08/27/tiktok-ceo-kevin-mayer-quits-us-sale/|archive-date=25 October 2020}}{{cite news|last=Zeitchik|first=Steven|date=18 May 2020|title=In surprise move, a top Disney executive will run TikTok|work=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/18/kevin-mayer-disney-tiktok/|url-status=live|access-date=22 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625210032/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/18/kevin-mayer-disney-tiktok/|archive-date=25 June 2020}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-28|title=Australian appointed interim chief executive of TikTok|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-28/australian-vanessa-pappas-appointed-tiktok-interim-ceo/12606814|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224221805/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-28/australian-vanessa-pappas-appointed-tiktok-interim-ceo/12606814|archive-date=24 December 2020|access-date=2020-10-15|website=www.abc.net.au}}

{{Main|Censorship of TikTok}}

{{cn span|In April 2020, TikTok officially cooperated with mainland China's Internet censorship mechanism and began to prohibit the use of overseas versions of Douyin in mainland China. Different from general blockade, TikTok adopted an IP lock zone, mainly for mainland China; Hong Kong and Macau were not affected. The direct consequence of the lock zone is that Chinese users cannot log in to TikTok using a VPN. Officials have also restricted the numbers of China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. The phone numbers of the above three cannot log in to TikTok. Even so, there are a large number of cracked versions of TikTok on the Chinese Internet. The cracked version of TikTok can watch videos normally, but the phone number restriction has not been cracked and users cannot log in.|date=November 2021}}

{{cn span|In January 2021, the Great Firewall of China's blocking measures on TikTok were further upgraded, and the monitoring of the cracked version of TikTok was increased, and measures such as node blocking and IP blocking were adopted to interfere with the normal watching of videos by mainland users: that is, users watch normally, but after a few videos, the video cannot be refreshed, and you need to re-enter the software before you can continue watching.|date=November 2021}}

{{cn span|The official website www.tiktok.com of the overseas version of TikTok is currently blocked by the Great Firewall, and the Chinese language of the official website of the overseas version only provides Traditional Chinese, as officially used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, instead of Simplified Chinese.|date=November 2021}}

The Indian Government banned TikTok along with 58 other mobile apps with Chinese developers or investors, including WeChat, UC Browser and PUBG on 29 June 2020.{{Cite web|last=Dhapola|first=Shruti|date=2020-12-24|title=Year of the Banned: TikTok to PUBG Mobile, all the apps that stopped working in India in 2020|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/year-of-the-banned-tiktok-to-pubg-mobile-all-the-apps-that-stopped-working-in-india-in-2020-7118174/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2 September 2020|title=In Third Blocking Order, India Bans 118 New Chinese-Linked Apps|url=https://thewire.in/tech/pubg-banned-chinese-apps-blocking-order-tension-pangong-tso|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-27|website=The Wire}} The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released a statement saying the apps were "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order".{{Cite news|date=29 June 2020|title=India bans TikTok and dozens more Chinese apps|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53225720|access-date=11 August 2020|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811185240/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53225720|url-status=live}} It was extended to 47 other apps which the ministry claimed were clones or variants of the banned apps. The ban on TikTok and the 58 other apps was made permanent in January 2021.{{Cite news|last=Singh|first=Kanishka|date=2021-01-25|title=India to impose permanent ban on 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok - Indian media|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-india-china-apps-idUSKBN29U2G6|access-date=2021-01-25|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126024007/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-india-china-apps-idUSKBN29U2G6|url-status=live}} In February 2021, TikTok announced that due to the ban it will be forced to lay off over 2,000 employees in India.{{Cite web|author=Michelle Toh|title=TikTok is laying off employees in India as ban becomes permanent|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/27/tech/tiktok-india-chinese-apps-intl-hnk/index.html|access-date=2021-02-11|website=CNN|date=27 January 2021|archive-date=11 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211155331/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/27/tech/tiktok-india-chinese-apps-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status=live}}

{{Main article|Donald Trump–TikTok controversy}}

On 6 August 2020, then U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order{{Cite web|title=Executive Order on Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-addressing-threat-posed-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303003031/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-addressing-threat-posed-tiktok/|archive-date=3 March 2021|access-date=2020-12-08|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}{{Cite web|date=2020-08-11|title=Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok, and Taking Additional Steps To Address the National Emergency With Respect to the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/11/2020-17699/addressing-the-threat-posed-by-tiktok-and-taking-additional-steps-to-address-the-national-emergency|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209064214/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/11/2020-17699/addressing-the-threat-posed-by-tiktok-and-taking-additional-steps-to-address-the-national-emergency|archive-date=9 December 2020|access-date=2020-12-08|website=Federal Register}} which would ban TikTok transactions in 45 days if it was not sold by ByteDance. Trump also signed a similar order against the WeChat application owned by the Chinese multinational company Tencent.{{cite web|last=Carvajal|first=Nikki|title=Trump issues executive order banning TikTok from operating in 45 days if it's not sold by Chinese parent company|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/politics/trump-executive-order-tiktok/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810020022/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/politics/trump-executive-order-tiktok/index.html|archive-date=10 August 2020|access-date=7 August 2020|website=CNN}}

On 14 August 2020, Trump issued another order{{Cite web|title=Order Regarding the Acquisition of Musical.ly by ByteDance Ltd|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/order-regarding-acquisition-musical-ly-bytedance-ltd/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120202126/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/order-regarding-acquisition-musical-ly-bytedance-ltd/|archive-date=20 January 2021|access-date=2020-12-08|work=whitehouse.gov|via=National Archives}}{{Cite web|title=govinfo|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/DCPD-202000608/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103172732/https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/DCPD-202000608/|archive-date=3 January 2021|access-date=2020-12-08|website=www.govinfo.gov}} giving ByteDance 90 days to sell or spin off its U.S. TikTok business.{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Wendy|date=17 October 2020|title=White House Presses To Move Forward With TikTok Ban|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/356940/white-house-presses-to-move-forward-with-tiktok-ba.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101122600/https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/356940/white-house-presses-to-move-forward-with-tiktok-ba.html|archive-date=1 November 2020|access-date=21 October 2020}} In the order, Trump said that there is "credible evidence" that leads him to believe that ByteDance "might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States."{{cite web|last1=Trump|first1=Donald J.|title=Order Regarding the acquisition of musical. Ly by Bytedance Ltd.|url=https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/EO-on-TikTok-8-14-20.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815193531/https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/EO-on-TikTok-8-14-20.pdf|archive-date=15 August 2020|access-date=14 August 2020}} Donald Trump was concerned about TikTok being a threat because TikTok's parent company was rumored to be taking United States user data and reporting it back to Chinese operations through the company ByteDance.{{Cite journal|last1=Ryan|first1=Fergus|last2=Fritz|first2=Audrey|last3=Impiombato|first3=Daria|date=2020|title=TikTok privacy concerns and data collection|journal=Tiktok and Wechat|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep26120.7|pages=36–42}} As of 2021, there is still the fear that TikTok is not protecting the privacy of its users and may be giving their data away.{{Cite web|last=Sommers|first=Jack|title=Nearly half of Americans fear TikTok would give their data to the Chinese government|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/nearly-half-of-americans-fear-tiktok-would-give-china-data-2021-7|access-date=2021-10-08|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}

TikTok considered selling the American portion of its business, and held talks with companies including Microsoft, Walmart, and Oracle.{{Cite web|last=Li|first=Jane|title=TikTok's deal with Oracle and Walmart is in its own lame-duck period|url=https://qz.com/1931773/tiktok-deal-with-oracle-walmart-is-in-its-own-lame-duck-period/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231094502/https://qz.com/1931773/tiktok-deal-with-oracle-walmart-is-in-its-own-lame-duck-period/|archive-date=31 December 2020|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Quartz}} In September 2020, a deal was confirmed between ByteDance and Oracle in which the latter will serve as a partner to provide cloud hosting.{{Cite web|last=Novet|first=Jordan|date=13 September 2020|title=Oracle stock surges after it confirms deal with TikTok-owner ByteDance|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/14/microsoft-bid-for-tiktoks-us-operations-rejected-by-bytedance.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215225232/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/14/microsoft-bid-for-tiktoks-us-operations-rejected-by-bytedance.html|archive-date=15 December 2020|access-date=2 October 2020|website=CNBC|quote=Shares of Oracle surged Monday morning after it confirmed it has been chosen to serve as TikTok owner ByteDance's "trusted technology provider" in the U.S.}}{{Cite web|last=Kharpal|first=Arjun|date=25 September 2020|title=Here's where things stand with the messy TikTok deal|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/25/tiktok-deal-timeline-the-latest-in-the-messy-saga-as-ban-looms.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102233308/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/25/tiktok-deal-timeline-the-latest-in-the-messy-saga-as-ban-looms.html|archive-date=2 January 2021|access-date=28 September 2020|website=CNBC}} Walmart intends to invest in TikTok.{{Cite news|last=Corkery|first=Michael|date=23 September 2020|title=Beyond TikTok, Walmart Looks to Transform|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/business/walmart-tiktok-groceries.html|url-status=live|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101145117/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/business/walmart-tiktok-groceries.html|archive-date=1 November 2020|issn=0362-4331|quote=Walmart's planned investment in TikTok is being called “transformative.”}} This deal would stall in 2021 as newly elected President Biden's Justice Department put a hold on the previous U.S. ban under President Trump.{{cite news|title=Biden Administration Pauses Trump's TikTok Ban, Backs Off Pressure To Sell App|newspaper=NPR |date=10 February 2021|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/10/966584204/biden-administration-pauses-trumps-tiktok-ban-backs-off-pressure-for-tiktok-to-s|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503225540/https://www.npr.org/2021/02/10/966584204/biden-administration-pauses-trumps-tiktok-ban-backs-off-pressure-for-tiktok-to-s|archive-date=3 May 2021|access-date=3 May 2021|last1=Allyn |first1=Bobby}}{{cite news|date=10 February 2021|title=TikTok Sale to Oracle, Walmart Is Shelved as Biden Reviews Security|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-sale-to-oracle-walmart-is-shelved-as-biden-reviews-security-11612958401|url-status=live|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503071904/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-sale-to-oracle-walmart-is-shelved-as-biden-reviews-security-11612958401|archive-date=3 May 2021}}{{cite web|title=ByteDance is walking away from its TikTok deal with Oracle now that Trump isn't in office, report says|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bytedance-ending-oracle-deal-because-trump-is-out-scmp-2021-2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503171447/https://www.businessinsider.com/bytedance-ending-oracle-deal-because-trump-is-out-scmp-2021-2|archive-date=3 May 2021|access-date=3 May 2021}}

On September 18, TikTok filed a lawsuit, TikTok v. Trump. On 23 September 2020, TikTok filed a request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the app from being banned by the Trump administration.{{cite web|last=Isaac|first=Mike|date=23 September 2020|title=TikTok Files for Injunction to Stop Ban of App|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/technology/tiktok-injunction-ban-app.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022075103/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/technology/tiktok-injunction-ban-app.html|archive-date=22 October 2020|access-date=26 September 2020|work=New York Times}} U.S. judge Carl J. Nichols temporarily blocked the Trump administration order that would effectively ban TikTok from being downloaded in U.S. app stores starting midnight on 27 September 2020. Nichols allowed the app to remain available in the U.S. app stores, but declined to block the additional Commerce Department restrictions that could have a larger impact on TikTok's operations in the U.S. These restrictions were set to take place 12 November 2020.{{Cite news|title=U.S. Judge Halts Trump's TikTok Ban, Hours Before It Was Set To Start|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/917452668/u-s-judge-halts-trumps-tiktok-ban-hours-before-it-was-set-to-start|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230122854/https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/917452668/u-s-judge-halts-trumps-tiktok-ban-hours-before-it-was-set-to-start|archive-date=30 December 2020|access-date=28 September 2020|website=NPR.org}}

Three TikTok influencers filed a lawsuit, Marland v. Trump.{{Cite news|last=Wells|first=Georgia|date=2020-11-26|title=TikTok Stars Proved Key in Strategy to Fight U.S. Ban|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-three-tiktok-stars-beat-back-u-s-plans-to-ban-the-app-11606418513|url-status=live|access-date=2020-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218033044/https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-three-tiktok-stars-beat-back-u-s-plans-to-ban-the-app-11606418513|archive-date=18 December 2020|issn=0099-9660}} On October 30, Pennsylvania judge Wendy Beetlestone ruled against the Commerce Department, blocking them from restricting TikTok. On November 12, the Commerce Department stated that it would obey the Pennsylvania ruling and that it would not try to enforce the restrictions against TikTok that had been scheduled for November 12.

The Commerce Department appealed the original ruling in TikTok v. Trump. On December 7, Washington D.C. district court judge Carl J. Nichols issued a preliminary injunction against the Commerce Department, preventing them from imposing restrictions on TikTok.{{Cite news|last=Wells|first=Georgia|date=2020-12-08|title=TikTok Download Ban Is Blocked by Second Judge|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-download-ban-is-blocked-by-second-judge-11607390564|url-status=live|access-date=2020-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102201655/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-download-ban-is-blocked-by-second-judge-11607390564|archive-date=2 January 2021|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite news|title=U.S. Judge Halts Trump's TikTok Ban, The 2nd Court To Fully Block The Action|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/07/944039053/u-s-judge-halts-trumps-tiktok-ban-the-2nd-court-to-fully-block-the-action|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103004734/https://www.npr.org/2020/12/07/944039053/u-s-judge-halts-trumps-tiktok-ban-the-2nd-court-to-fully-block-the-action|archive-date=3 January 2021|access-date=2020-12-08|newspaper=NPR|date=7 December 2020|last1=Allyn|first1=Bobby}}{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Jay|date=2020-12-07|title=Second judge says Trump can't ban TikTok|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/7/22160239/tiktok-ban-judge-trump-administration-us-commerce-department|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219133605/https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/7/22160239/tiktok-ban-judge-trump-administration-us-commerce-department|archive-date=19 December 2020|access-date=2020-12-08|website=The Verge}}

In June 2021, President Biden signed an executive order revoking the Trump administration ban on TikTok, and instead ordered the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the app to determine if it poses a threat to U.S. national security.{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Makena|date=9 June 2021|title=Biden revokes Trump bans on TikTok and WeChat|work=The Verge|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/9/22525953/biden-tiktok-wechat-trump-bans-revoked-alipay|access-date=9 June 2021}}

TikTok has been intermittently blocked in Indonesia and Bangladesh on different bases.{{cite web|date=7 May 2018|title=Indonesia blocks 'pornographic' Tik Tok app|url=https://www.dw.com/en/indonesia-blocks-pornographic-tik-tok-app/a-44537230|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302090524/https://www.dw.com/en/indonesia-blocks-pornographic-tik-tok-app/a-44537230|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=DW.COM}}{{cite web|date=25 February 2019|title=Bangladesh 'anti-porn war' bans blogs and Google books|url=https://www.dw.com/en/bangladesh-anti-porn-war-bans-blogs-and-google-books/a-47684058|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024928/https://www.dw.com/en/bangladesh-anti-porn-war-bans-blogs-and-google-books/a-47684058|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=DW.COM}}

On 11 October 2020, Pakistan banned the social media platform after not complying with issues regarding the content on the platform brought up by their government,{{Cite news|last=Masood|first=Salman|date=2020-10-11|title=Pakistan Bans TikTok, Citing Morals. Others Cite Politics.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/11/technology/tiktok-pakistan-ban.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103172309/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/11/technology/tiktok-pakistan-ban.html|archive-date=3 January 2021|issn=0362-4331}} but reversed its ban ten days later on 19 October 2020.{{Cite web|last=Business|first=Charles Riley, CNN|title=Pakistan reverses TikTok ban after 10 days|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/19/tech/tiktok-ban-pakistan-reversed/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304074730/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/19/tech/tiktok-ban-pakistan-reversed/index.html|archive-date=4 March 2021|access-date=11 January 2021|website=CNN}}{{Cite web|last=Kastrenakes|first=Jacob|date=2020-10-09|title=Pakistan bans TikTok for "immoral" and "indecent" videos|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/9/21509817/tiktok-pakistan-ban-immoral-indecent-content|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123151640/https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/9/21509817/tiktok-pakistan-ban-immoral-indecent-content|archive-date=23 November 2020|access-date=2020-10-12|website=The Verge}}{{cite web|date=9 October 2020|title=Pakistan bans TikTok for allowing 'immoral and indecent' content|url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/10/09/pakistan-bans-tiktok-for-allowing-immoral-and-indecent-content/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230063842/https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/10/09/pakistan-bans-tiktok-for-allowing-immoral-and-indecent-content/|archive-date=30 December 2020|access-date=10 October 2020|website=Android Police}} Then in March 2021, a Pakistani court ordered a new TikTok ban due to complaints over "indecent" content.{{Cite news|last=Ahmad|first=Asif Shahzad, Jibran|date=2021-03-11|title=Pakistan to block social media app TikTok over 'indecency' complaint|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-socialmedia-tiktok-idUSKBN2B329C|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312045423/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-socialmedia-tiktok-idUSKBN2B329C|archive-date=12 March 2021}}

TikTok representatives are currently speaking with Pakistani officials in hopes of building better relations and allowing the people of Pakistan to create on the platform.

Some users may find it hard to stop using TikTok.{{cite web|date=19 May 2018|title=Lip syncing, finger dancing – Hong Kong kids go crazy for Tik Tok|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2146904/i-risked-my-life-please-mobile-app-tik-tok-has-hong-kong|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302090454/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2146904/i-risked-my-life-please-mobile-app-tik-tok-has-hong-kong|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=South China Morning Post}} In April 2018, an addiction-reduction feature was added to Douyin. This encouraged users to take a break every 90 minutes. Later in 2018, the feature was rolled out to the TikTok app. TikTok uses some top influencers such as Gabe Erwin, Alan Chikin Chow, James Henry, and Cosette Rinab to encourage viewers to stop using the app and take a break.{{cite web|last=Stokel-Walker|first=Chris|title=TikTok influencers are telling people to stop using the app|url=https://www.inputmag.com/features/tiktok-tips-telling-users-log-off-get-outdoors-sleep|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224152400/https://www.inputmag.com/features/tiktok-tips-telling-users-log-off-get-outdoors-sleep|archive-date=24 February 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Input}}

Many were also concerned with users' attention spans with these videos. Users watch short 15-second clips repeatedly and studies say that this could result in a decreased attention span. This is a concern as many of TikTok's audience are younger children, whose brains are still developing.{{Cite web|last=Su|first=Xiaochen|date=8 May 2020|title=The Trouble With TikTok's Global Rise|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/134846|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612181540/https://international.thenewslens.com/article/134846|archive-date=12 June 2020|access-date=12 June 2020|website=The News Lens International Edition}}

Many countries showed concerns regarding the content of TikTok which is thought to be obscene, immoral, vulgar and encouraging of pornography. There have been temporary blocks and warnings issued by countries including Indonesia, Bangladesh, India,{{cite web|date=4 April 2019|title='It Encourages Pornography': Madras High Court Asks Government to Ban Video App TikTok|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/it-encourages-pornography-madras-high-court-asks-government-to-ban-video-app-tiktok-2088337.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404062759/https://www.news18.com/news/india/it-encourages-pornography-madras-high-court-asks-government-to-ban-video-app-tiktok-2088337.html|archive-date=4 April 2019|access-date=4 April 2019|publisher=News18}} and Pakistan{{Cite web|date=21 July 2020|title=Pakistan warns TikTok over 'obscene, immoral' content|url=https://nation.com.pk/21-Jul-2020/pakistan-warns-tiktok-over-obscene-immoral-content|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723095832/https://nation.com.pk/21-Jul-2020/pakistan-warns-tiktok-over-obscene-immoral-content|archive-date=23 July 2020|access-date=23 July 2020|website=The Nation}}{{Cite web|title=Pakistan puts TikTok on 'final notice' over 'obscenity' concerns|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2020/07/200721153748436.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722141949/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2020/07/200721153748436.html|archive-date=22 July 2020|access-date=23 July 2020|website=www.aljazeera.com}} over the content concerns. In 2018, Douyin was reprimanded by Chinese media watchdogs for showing "unacceptable" content, such as videos depicting adolescent pregnancies.{{cite web|title=TikTok parent ByteDance sues Chinese news site that exposed fake news problem|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2018/12/19/tiktok-parent-bytedance-sues-chinese-news-site-that-exposed-fake-news-problem/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023655/https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/19/tiktok-parent-bytedance-sues-chinese-news-site-that-exposed-fake-news-problem/|archive-date=22 August 2020|access-date=1 March 2019|publisher=TechCrunch}}

On 27 July 2020, Egypt sentenced five women to two years in prison over TikTok videos on charges of violating public morals. The court also imposed a fine of 300,000 Egyptian pounds (UK£14,600) on each defendant.{{cite web|date=27 July 2020|title=Egypt jails women for two years over TikTok videos|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/27/egypt-jails-women-for-two-years-over-tiktok-videos|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727171211/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/27/egypt-jails-women-for-two-years-over-tiktok-videos|archive-date=27 July 2020|access-date=27 July 2020|website=The Guardian}}

Concerns have been voiced regarding content relating to, and the promotion of spreading hateful words and far-right extremism, such as anti-semitism, racism and xenophobia. Some videos were shown to expressly deny the existence of the Holocaust and for its viewers to take up arms and fight in the name of white supremacy and the swastika.{{cite journal|last1=Weimann & Masri|date=2020-05-25|title=Research Note: Spreading Hate on TikTok|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1057610X.2020.1780027?casa_token=8kzlD3RmDnIAAAAA%3AIbqWwrF_0Oj6qWbfrEcTb6uSnbXeXtvA4k_7bcWK4p-aqFYCTxmgJkO_Rjr6gqsmE-VbSIfrKONFgw|url-status=live|journal=Studies in Conflict & Terrorism|pages=1–14|doi=10.1080/1057610X.2020.1780027|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524231908/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1057610X.2020.1780027?casa_token=8kzlD3RmDnIAAAAA%3AIbqWwrF_0Oj6qWbfrEcTb6uSnbXeXtvA4k_7bcWK4p-aqFYCTxmgJkO_Rjr6gqsmE-VbSIfrKONFgw&|archive-date=24 May 2021|access-date=2 March 2021}} As TikTok has gained popularity among young children{{cite news|last1=BBC|date=19 February 2020|title=TikTok 'family safety mode' gives parents some app control|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51561050|url-status=live|access-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126084919/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51561050|archive-date=26 January 2021}} and the popularity of extremist and hateful content is growing, calls for tighter restrictions on their flexible boundaries have been made. TikTok have since released tougher parental controls to filter out inappropriate content and to ensure they can provide sufficient protection and security.{{cite web|last1=Stokel-Walker|first1=Chris|title=TikTok will make under-16s' accounts private by default to protect them from groomers|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-tightens-privacy-of-accounts-belonging-to-under-16s-2021-1?r=US&IR=T|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114182339/https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-tightens-privacy-of-accounts-belonging-to-under-16s-2021-1?r=US&IR=T|archive-date=14 January 2021|access-date=2 March 2021|website=BusinessInsider}}

A viral TikTok trend known as "Devious Licks" involves students vandalizing or stealing school property and posting the videos of the action on the platform. The trend has led to increasing school vandalism and subsequent measures taken by some schools to prevent damage. Some students have been arrested for participating in the trend.{{cite web|last1=Pelletiere|first1=Nicole|date=17 September 2021|title=15-year-old student's arrest linked to banned TikTok challenge after police locate video of crime|url=https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/florida-teen-arrested-tiktok-school-devious-licks|access-date=18 September 2021|website=Fox News}}{{cite web|title="Devious Licks" TikTok challenge leaving bathrooms plundered in many schools across the nation|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/devious-licks-tiktok-challenge-bathrooms-vandalism/|access-date=18 September 2021|website=minnesota.cbslocal.com}} TikTok has taken measures to remove and prevent access to content displaying the trend.{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Joelle|date=September 16, 2021|title=What to Know About the 'Devious Lick' TikTok Challenge — and Why Schools are Warning Parents|work=People|url=https://people.com/human-interest/what-to-know-about-devious-lick-tiktok-challenge/|access-date=September 17, 2021}}

The Wall Street Journal has reported that doctors experienced a surge in reported cases of tics, tied to an increasing number of TikTok videos from content creators with Tourette syndrome. Doctors suggested that the cause may be a social one as users who consumed content showcasing various tics would sometimes develop tics of their own.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/teen-girls-are-developing-tics-doctors-say-tiktok-could-be-a-factor-11634389201 |title= Teen Girls Are Developing Tics. Doctors Say TikTok Could Be a Factor. |work=The Wall Street Journal |last=Jargon |first=Julie |date=October 19, 2021|access-date=November 15, 2021}}

In January 2020, Media Matters for America said that TikTok hosted misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic despite a recent policy against misinformation.{{cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Alex|date=28 January 2020|title=TikTok is hosting videos spreading misinformation about the coronavirus, despite the platform's new anti-misinformation policy|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/fake-news/tiktok-hosting-videos-spreading-misinformation-about-coronavirus-despite-platforms-new|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518132317/https://www.mediamatters.org/fake-news/tiktok-hosting-videos-spreading-misinformation-about-coronavirus-despite-platforms-new|archive-date=18 May 2020|access-date=25 May 2020|website=Media Matters for America}} In April 2020, the government of India asked TikTok to remove users posting misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|last=Kalra|first=Aditya|date=7 April 2020|title=India asks TikTok, Facebook to remove users spreading coronavirus misinformation|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-socialmedia-idUSKBN21P2QI|url-status=live|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505144912/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-socialmedia-idUSKBN21P2QI|archive-date=5 May 2020}} There were also multiple conspiracy theories that the government is involved with the spread of the pandemic.{{cite magazine|last=Dickson|first=E.J.|date=13 May 2020|title=On TikTok, COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Flourish Amid Viral Dances|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/tiktok-conspiracy-theories-bill-gates-microchip-vaccine-996394/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527140407/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/tiktok-conspiracy-theories-bill-gates-microchip-vaccine-996394/|archive-date=27 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone}} As a response to this, TikTok launched a feature to report content for misinformation.{{cite web|date=16 August 2019|title=Our efforts towards fighting misinformation in times of COVID-19|url=https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/our-efforts-towards-fighting-misinformation-in-times-of-coronavirus/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529215753/https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/our-efforts-towards-fighting-misinformation-in-times-of-coronavirus|archive-date=29 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Newsroom {{!}} TikTok}}

{{Main article|Censorship on TikTok}}

According to Mar Hicks, creators on TikTok feel that they have to be overly cautious about what they post "because the rules change at any given moment, there's no transparency".{{Cite web|last=Sanchez|first=Kait|date=2021-06-04|title=TikTok says the repeat removal of the intersex hashtag was a mistake|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/4/22519433/tiktok-intersex-ban-mistake-moderation-transparency|access-date=2021-06-06|website=The Verge|language=en}} Hicks said that the sudden disappearance of tags, intentional or not, has "incredibly problematic effects and negative effects on communities that are already marginalized and erased." The muddiness around content removal and moderation on TikTok is an ongoing frustration for the app's users. TikTok has community guidelines, but there is no public list of specific words and phrases that are banned, and it is not clear how much moderation is done algorithmically versus by actual people. In instances of protesting against acts of racism and racism as a whole, users have felt that there was a change in the popularity of their content, even so much as their content not showing up as frequently or even at all.{{Cite journal|last1=Ryan|first1=Fergus|last2=Fritz|first2=Audrey|last3=Impiombato|first3=Daria|date=2020|title=TikTok censorship|journal=Tiktok and Wechat|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep26120.5|pages=04–24}}

In March 2020, internal documents leaked to The Intercept revealed that moderators had been instructed to suppress posts created by users deemed "too ugly, poor, or disabled" for the platform, and to censor political speech in livestreams, punishing those who harmed "national honor" or broadcast streams about "state organs such as police" with bans from the platform.{{cite news|last=Hern|first=Alex|date=17 March 2020|title=TikTok 'tried to filter out videos from ugly, poor or disabled users'|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/mar/17/tiktok-tried-to-filter-out-videos-from-ugly-poor-or-disabled-users|url-status=live|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317174644/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/mar/17/tiktok-tried-to-filter-out-videos-from-ugly-poor-or-disabled-users|archive-date=17 March 2020}}{{Cite news|last=Dodds|first=Laurence|date=12 July 2020|title=Inside TikTok's dystopian Chinese censorship machine|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/07/12/inside-tiktoks-dystopian-chinese-censorship-machine/|url-status=live|access-date=12 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712114053/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/07/12/inside-tiktoks-dystopian-chinese-censorship-machine/|archive-date=12 July 2020|issn=0307-1235}} In response to censorship concerns, TikTok's parent company hired K&L Gates, including former U.S. Congressmen Bart Gordon and Jeff Denham, to advise it on its content moderation policies.{{cite news|last=Li|first=Jane|date=16 October 2019|title=TikTok wants to prove it's not a new front in China's information war|work=Quartz|url=https://qz.com/1729040/chinas-tiktok-taps-former-us-lawmakers-to-advise-on-content-moderation-policies/|url-status=live|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017030721/https://qz.com/1729040/chinas-tiktok-taps-former-us-lawmakers-to-advise-on-content-moderation-policies/|archive-date=17 October 2019}}{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Cyrus|date=16 October 2019|title=TikTok hires legal experts for content moderation amid censorship concerns|publisher=ZDNet|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/tiktok-hires-legal-experts-for-content-moderation-amid-censorship-concerns/|url-status=live|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019181922/https://www.zdnet.com/article/tiktok-hires-legal-experts-for-content-moderation-amid-censorship-concerns/|archive-date=19 October 2019}} TikTok also hired lobbying firm Monument Advocacy.{{cite news|last1=Brody|first1=Ben|last2=Wilson|first2=Megan|date=12 November 2019|title=TikTok Revamps Lobbying as Washington Targets Chinese Ownership|publisher=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-12/tiktok-revamps-lobbying-as-washington-targets-chinese-ownership|url-status=live|access-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113022322/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-12/tiktok-revamps-lobbying-as-washington-targets-chinese-ownership|archive-date=13 November 2019}} In January 2021, TikTok banned Trump content deemed to be inciting violence.{{Cite web|title=TikTok banned Trump before Trump could ban TikTok|url=https://fortune.com/2021/01/11/tiktok-bans-trump-before-trump-bans-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111194426/https://fortune.com/2021/01/11/tiktok-bans-trump-before-trump-bans-tiktok/|archive-date=11 January 2021|access-date=11 January 2021|website=Fortune}}

{{Main articles|Human rights in China}}

In January 2019, the Chinese government said that it would start to hold app developers like ByteDance responsible for user content shared via apps such as Douyin,{{cite web|date=14 January 2019|title=Chinese government to start blaming social apps for what their users' post|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/14/chinese-government-start-blaming-social-apps-users-post-8341950/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302090533/https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/14/chinese-government-start-blaming-social-apps-users-post-8341950/|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|work=Metro}} and listed 100 types of content that the Chinese government would censor.{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Rebecca|date=18 January 2019|title=Farewell to Concubines: China Tightens Restrictions on Short-Form Videos|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/china-douyin-tiktok-kuaishou-iqiyi-short-form-video-restrictions-1203110494/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302025024/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/china-douyin-tiktok-kuaishou-iqiyi-short-form-video-restrictions-1203110494/|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|work=Variety}} It was reported that certain content unfavorable to the Chinese Communist Party has already been limited for users outside of China such as content related to the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests or Tibetan independence.{{Cite news|last1=Harwell|first1=Drew|last2=Romm|first2=Tony|date=15 September 2019|title=TikTok's Beijing roots fuel censorship suspicion as it builds a huge U.S. audience|work=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/15/tiktoks-beijing-roots-fuel-censorship-suspicion-it-builds-huge-us-audience/|url-status=live|access-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190916022522/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/15/tiktoks-beijing-roots-fuel-censorship-suspicion-it-builds-huge-us-audience/?noredirect=on|archive-date=16 September 2019}}{{Cite news|last=Hern|first=Alex|date=25 September 2019|title=Revealed: how TikTok censors videos that do not please Beijing|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/25/revealed-how-tiktok-censors-videos-that-do-not-please-beijing|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021015127/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/25/revealed-how-tiktok-censors-videos-that-do-not-please-beijing|archive-date=21 October 2019|issn=0261-3077}} TikTok has blocked videos about human rights in China, particularly those that reference Xinjiang internment camps and abuses of ethnic and religious minorities such as the Uyghurs, and disabled the accounts of users who post them.{{Cite news|last=Cockerell|first=Isobel|date=25 September 2019|title=TikTok – Yes, TikTok – Is the Latest Window Into China's Police State|work=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-is-the-latest-window-into-chinas-police-state/|url-status=live|access-date=29 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002081715/https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-is-the-latest-window-into-chinas-police-state/|archive-date=2 October 2019}}{{Cite news|last1=Chan|first1=Holmes|last2=Grundy|first2=Tom|date=27 November 2019|title='Suspension won't silence me': Teen speaks out after embedding message about Xinjiang Uyghurs in TikTok make-up vid|publisher=Hong Kong Free Press|url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/11/27/suspension-wont-silence-teen-speaks-embedding-message-xinjiang-uyghurs-tiktok-make-vid/|url-status=live|access-date=27 November 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191127191634/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/11/27/suspension-wont-silence-teen-speaks-embedding-message-xinjiang-uyghurs-tiktok-make-vid/|archive-date=27 November 2019}}{{Cite news|last=Handley|first=Erin|date=28 November 2019|title=TikTok parent company complicit in censorship and Xinjiang police propaganda: report|work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-28/tiktok-huawei-surveillance-censorship-in-xinjiang-china-report/11745494|url-status=live|access-date=23 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226141359/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-28/tiktok-huawei-surveillance-censorship-in-xinjiang-china-report/11745494|archive-date=26 December 2019}}{{Cite news|last=Lipes|first=Joshua|date=28 July 2020|title='You Would Want Somebody to Speak up For You': TikToker Who Posted Viral Video on Uyghurs|work=Radio Free Asia|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/video-07282020180119.html|url-status=live|access-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729183529/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/video-07282020180119.html|archive-date=29 July 2020}} TikTok's policies also ban content related to a specific list of foreign leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and Mahatma Gandhi because it can stir controversy and attacks on political views.{{cite news|last=Hern|first=Alex|date=25 September 2019|title=Revealed: how TikTok censors videos that do not please Beijing|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/25/revealed-how-tiktok-censors-videos-that-do-not-please-beijing|url-status=live|access-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021015127/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/25/revealed-how-tiktok-censors-videos-that-do-not-please-beijing|archive-date=21 October 2019|issn=0261-3077}} Its policies also ban content critical of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and content considered pro-Kurdish.{{cite news|last=Hern|first=Alex|date=26 September 2019|title=TikTok's local moderation guidelines ban pro-LGBT content|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/26/tiktoks-local-moderation-guidelines-ban-pro-lgbt-content|url-status=live|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926144822/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/26/tiktoks-local-moderation-guidelines-ban-pro-lgbt-content|archive-date=26 September 2019|issn=0261-3077}} TikTok was reported to have censored users supportive of the Citizenship Amendment Act protests in India and those who promote Hindu-Muslim unity.{{cite news|last=Christopher|first=Nilesh|date=31 January 2020|title=Censorship claims emerge as TikTok gets political in India|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51262944|url-status=live|access-date=1 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131192244/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51262944|archive-date=31 January 2020}} On 27 November 2019, TikTok temporarily suspended the account of 17-year-old Afghan-American user Feroza Aziz after she posted a video, disguised as a makeup tutorial, drawing attention to the internment camps of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=David|last2=Tannahill|first2=Jordan|date=28 November 2019|title=TikTok apologises and reinstates banned teen|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50582101|url-status=live|access-date=28 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128134035/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50582101|archive-date=28 November 2019}} TikTok later apologized and explained that her account was suspended as a result of human error, and her account has since been reinstated.{{cite web|title=TikTok Denies Censoring A Teen Who Criticized China's Concentration Camps – They Said They Banned Her After A Joke About Osama Bin Laden Thirst|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/teen-tik-tok-china-osama-bin-laden|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127235554/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/teen-tik-tok-china-osama-bin-laden|archive-date=27 November 2019|access-date=4 December 2019|website=BuzzFeed News}} In July 2020, TikTok suspended the account of another user whose viral video called attention to human rights of the Uyghurs.

In June 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that some previously non-political TikTok users were airing pro-Beijing views for the explicit purpose of boosting subscribers and avoiding "shadow" bans.{{Cite news|last=Xiao|first=Eva|date=17 June 2020|title=TikTok Users Gush About China, Hoping to Boost Views|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-users-gush-about-china-hoping-to-boost-views-11592386203|url-status=live|access-date=20 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619062523/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-users-gush-about-china-hoping-to-boost-views-11592386203|archive-date=19 June 2020|issn=0099-9660}} In July 2020, the company announced it was pulling out of Hong Kong responding to the Hong Kong national security law.{{Cite news|last=Byford|first=Sam|date=7 July 2020|title=TikTok pulls out of Hong Kong due to new security law|work=The Verge|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/7/21315637/tiktok-hong-kong-security-chinese-government-pompeo-us-ban|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707045737/https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/7/21315637/tiktok-hong-kong-security-chinese-government-pompeo-us-ban|archive-date=7 July 2020}}

In June 2020, The Times of India reported that TikTok was "shadow banning" videos related to the Sino-Indian border dispute and the 2020 China–India skirmishes.{{cite news|last=Banerjee|first=Chandrima|date=6 June 2020|title=Does TikTok censor content that's critical of China?|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/does-tiktok-censor-content-thats-critical-of-china/articleshow/76228715.cms|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706133916/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/does-tiktok-censor-content-thats-critical-of-china/articleshow/76228715.cms|archive-date=6 July 2020}}

In November 2020, a former TikTok executive stated to a UK parliamentary committee that TikTok censored content critical of China and particularly content related to the Uyghur genocide.{{Cite web|last=Shead|first=Sam|date=2020-11-05|title=TikTok invites UK lawmakers to review algorithm after being probed on China censorship concerns|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/05/tiktok-invites-uk-lawmakers-to-review-algorithm-after-china-probe.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124143909/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/05/tiktok-invites-uk-lawmakers-to-review-algorithm-after-china-probe.html|archive-date=24 November 2020|access-date=2020-11-07|website=CNBC}}

{{Main articles|Use of social media by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}

In October 2019, TikTok removed about two dozen accounts that were responsible for posting ISIS propaganda on the app.{{cite web|last=Feuer|first=William|date=22 October 2019|title=TikTok removes two dozen accounts used for ISIS propaganda|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/21/tiktok-removes-two-dozen-accounts-used-for-isis-propaganda.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022103227/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/21/tiktok-removes-two-dozen-accounts-used-for-isis-propaganda.html|archive-date=22 October 2019|access-date=21 October 2019|website=CNBC}}{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Georgia|date=23 October 2019|title=Islamic State's TikTok Posts Include Beheading Videos|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/islamic-states-tiktok-posts-include-beheading-videos-11571855833|url-status=live|access-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025214023/https://www.wsj.com/articles/islamic-states-tiktok-posts-include-beheading-videos-11571855833|archive-date=25 October 2019}}

TikTok moderators have blocked content that could be perceived as being positive towards LGBT people or LGBT rights, including same-sex couples holding hands, including in countries where homosexuality has never been illegal.{{cite news|last=Criddle|first=Cristina|date=12 February 2020|title=Transgender users accuse TikTok of censorship|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51474114|url-status=live|access-date=12 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213170813/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51474114|archive-date=13 February 2020}} Former U.S. employees of TikTok reported to The Washington Post that final decisions to remove content were made by parent company employees in Beijing.{{cite news|last1=Harwell|first1=Drew|last2=Romm|first2=Tony|date=5 November 2019|title=Inside TikTok: A culture clash where U.S. views about censorship often were overridden by the Chinese bosses|work=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/11/05/inside-tiktok-culture-clash-where-us-views-about-censorship-often-were-overridden-by-chinese-bosses/|url-status=live|access-date=9 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110030035/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/11/05/inside-tiktok-culture-clash-where-us-views-about-censorship-often-were-overridden-by-chinese-bosses/|archive-date=10 November 2019}}

In May 2021, Pidgeon Pagonis, an American intersex activist, reported that for the second time the intersex hashtag was not working on TikTok. They could not click the tag on one of their own posts and trying to search for "intersex" pulled up a "null" page. TikTok told The Verge that in both of the instances Pagonis noticed, the tag had been removed by mistake and was subsequently restored. However, because there was no public statement about the accidental removal, Pagonis and others were left to speculate about whether it was being intentionally censored.

People use different tactics to skirt TikTok's moderation. Some lesbian women on the app jokingly refer to themselves as "le dolla bean" based on the "le$bian" spelling that is used to avoid their videos being removed. Mar Hicks, a historian of technology, said: "It became this whole joke because things that have the word lesbian in them were either getting flagged for deletion or causing the users' accounts to get in trouble." According to Hicks, LGBTI people and people of color have found the guidelines are enforced "wildly differently", meaning their content will be suppressed or removed for supposed violations, but they get no response when they report abuse from other users, adding: "Not only is it hurting their ability to speak and be seen on the app, but it's also allowing them to get attacked and have hate speech thrown their way."

{{Main articles|Human rights in Russia}}

On 3 February 2021, TikTok received a praise from Russian officials because social app's cooperation with them in deletion of "forbidden" content, mostly related to protest activity in Russia. In particular, as media censorship agency Roskomnadzor official Evgeniy Zaitsev stated that, "we need to highlight TikTok among other social media platforms because it has office in Russia and actively cooperated with us, which cannot be said about others".{{Cite news|date=3 February 2021|title=В Роскомнадзоре похвалили TikTok за удаление постов с призывами к протестам|language=ru|trans-title=Roskomnadzor praised the TikTok for deletion of posts with calls for protest activity|work=Interfax.ru|url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/749258|url-status=live|access-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203142808/https://www.interfax.ru/russia/749258|archive-date=3 February 2021}} Also, the State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein said that TikTok new anti-fake news policies go well with the ideology of Russian content censorship law and edition of those "should be considered a very positive signal".{{Cite news|date=3 February 2021|title=Хинштейн: функция для борьбы с фейками в TikTok вписывается в идеологию принятого в РФ закона|language=ru|trans-title=Khinstein: function to block fake content in TikTok fits well into ideology of recently adopted law in Russia|work=Парламентская газета|url=https://www.pnp.ru/social/khinshteyn-novaya-funkciyu-dlya-borby-s-feykami-v-tiktok-vpisyvaetsya-v-ideologiyu-prinyatogo-v-rossii-zakona.html|url-status=live|access-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203210614/https://www.pnp.ru/social/khinshteyn-novaya-funkciyu-dlya-borby-s-feykami-v-tiktok-vpisyvaetsya-v-ideologiyu-prinyatogo-v-rossii-zakona.html|archive-date=3 February 2021}}

Privacy concerns have also been brought up regarding the app.{{cite web|last=Wong|first=Queenie|date=2 December 2019|title=TikTok accused of secretly gathering user data and sending it to China|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/tiktok-accused-of-secretly-gathering-user-data-and-sending-it-to-china/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506065834/https://www.cnet.com/news/tiktok-accused-of-secretly-gathering-user-data-and-sending-it-to-china/|archive-date=6 May 2020|access-date=27 April 2020|publisher=CNET}}{{cite news|last1=Bergman|first1=Ronen|last2=Frenkel|first2=Sheera|last3=Zhong|first3=Raymond|date=8 January 2020|title=Major TikTok Security Flaws Found|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/08/technology/tiktok-security-flaws.html|url-status=live|access-date=27 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410180937/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/08/technology/tiktok-security-flaws.html|archive-date=10 April 2020}} In its privacy policy, TikTok lists that it collects usage information, IP addresses, a user's mobile carrier, unique device identifiers, keystroke patterns, and location data, among other data.{{cite web|last=Mahadevan|first=Tara C.|date=27 February 2020|title=TikTok Responds After Reddit CEO Calls It 'Fundamentally Parasitic'|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2020/02/reddit-ceo-calls-tiktok-fundamentally-parasitic|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228191214/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2020/02/reddit-ceo-calls-tiktok-fundamentally-parasitic|archive-date=28 February 2020|access-date=27 April 2020|work=Complex}}{{cite web|title=Privacy Policy (If you are a user having your usual residence in the US)|url=https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy?lang=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426000353/https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy?lang=en|archive-date=26 April 2020|access-date=27 April 2020|publisher=TikTok}} Web developers Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk said that allowing videos and other content being shared by the app's users through HTTP puts the users' data privacy at risk.{{cite web|date=3 January 2020|title=Army joins Navy in banning TikTok|url=https://www.scmagazine.com/home/security-news/army-joins-navy-in-banning-tiktok/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423121251/https://www.scmagazine.com/home/security-news/army-joins-navy-in-banning-tiktok/|archive-date=23 April 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=SC Media}}

In January 2020, Check Point Research discovered a security flaw in TikTok which could have allowed hackers access to user accounts using SMS.{{cite web|date=8 January 2020|title=TikTok flaws could have allowed hackers access to user accounts through an SMS|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/tiktok-flaws-could-have-allowed-hackers-access-to-user-accounts-through-an-sms/story-2bRiI7rtvIC9GF38h9SHhN.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108163200/https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/tiktok-flaws-could-have-allowed-hackers-access-to-user-accounts-through-an-sms/story-2bRiI7rtvIC9GF38h9SHhN.html|archive-date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020|website=Hindustan Times}} In February, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman criticised the app, calling it "spyware," and stating "I look at that app as so fundamentally parasitic, that it's always listening, the fingerprinting technology they use is truly terrifying, and I could not bring myself to install an app like that on my phone."{{cite web|last=Hamilton|first=Isobel Asher|date=27 February 2020|title=Reddit's CEO described TikTok as 'parasitic' and 'spyware'|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/reddit-ceo-steve-huffman-says-tiktok-is-parasitic-2020-2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426183949/https://www.businessinsider.com/reddit-ceo-steve-huffman-says-tiktok-is-parasitic-2020-2|archive-date=26 April 2020|access-date=27 April 2020}}{{cite web|last=Matney|first=Lucas|date=27 February 2020|title=Reddit CEO: TikTok is 'fundamentally parasitic'|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/26/reddit-ceo-tiktok-is-fundamentally-parasitic/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424201432/https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/26/reddit-ceo-tiktok-is-fundamentally-parasitic/|archive-date=24 April 2020|access-date=27 April 2020|publisher=TechCrunch}} Responding to Huffman's comments, TikTok stated "These are baseless accusations made without a shred of evidence." Wells Fargo banned the app from its devices due to privacy and security concerns.{{Cite news|last=Levitt|first=Hannah|date=11 July 2020|title=Wells Fargo Tells Workers to Remove TikTok App From Work Phones|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-11/wells-fargo-tells-workers-to-remove-tiktok-app-from-work-phones|url-status=live|access-date=11 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711063344/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-11/wells-fargo-tells-workers-to-remove-tiktok-app-from-work-phones|archive-date=11 July 2020}}

In May 2020, the Dutch Data Protection Authority announced an investigation into TikTok in relation to privacy protections for children.{{cite news|last=Deutsch|first=Anthony|date=8 May 2020|title=Dutch watchdog to investigate TikTok's use of children's data|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-dataprivacy-tiktok-idUSKBN22K1UE|url-status=live|access-date=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513054358/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-dataprivacy-tiktok-idUSKBN22K1UE|archive-date=13 May 2020}}{{cite news|last=Bodoni|first=Stephanie|date=8 May 2020|title=TikTok Faces Dutch Privacy Probe Over Children's Data|publisher=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-08/tiktok-faces-dutch-privacy-probe-over-safety-of-children-s-data|url-status=live|access-date=12 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513065744/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-08/tiktok-faces-dutch-privacy-probe-over-safety-of-children-s-data|archive-date=13 May 2020}} In June 2020, the European Data Protection Board announced that it would assemble a task force to examine TikTok's user privacy and security practices.{{cite news|last=Yun Chee|first=Foo|date=10 June 2020|title=EU watchdog sets up TikTok task force, warns on Clearview AI software|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-privacy-tiktok-clearview-idUSKBN23H2PM|url-status=live|access-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611170414/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-privacy-tiktok-clearview-idUSKBN23H2PM|archive-date=11 June 2020}}

In August 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that TikTok tracked Android user data, including MAC addresses and IMEIs, with a tactic in violation of Google's policies.{{Cite news|last1=Poulsen|first1=Kevin|last2=McMillan|first2=Robert|date=11 August 2020|title=TikTok Tracked User Data Using Tactic Banned by Google|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-tracked-user-data-using-tactic-banned-by-google-11597176738|url-status=live|access-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812015305/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-tracked-user-data-using-tactic-banned-by-google-11597176738|archive-date=12 August 2020|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web|last=Brandom|first=Russell|date=11 August 2020|title=TikTok collected device identifiers for over a year in violation of Android policies|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/11/21364017/tiktok-mac-address-collected-identifier-android-violation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112195835/https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/11/21364017/tiktok-mac-address-collected-identifier-android-violation|archive-date=12 November 2020|access-date=11 September 2020|website=The Verge}} The report sparked calls in the U.S. Senate for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation.{{Cite news|last=Choi|first=Euirim|date=13 August 2020|title=Senators Ask FTC to Investigate TikTok Data Collection|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/senators-ask-ftc-to-investigate-tiktok-data-collection-11597355356|url-status=live|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814152243/https://www.wsj.com/articles/senators-ask-ftc-to-investigate-tiktok-data-collection-11597355356|archive-date=14 August 2020|issn=0099-9660}}

In June 2021, TikTok updated its privacy policy to include collection of biometric data, including "faceprints and voiceprints".{{Cite news|last=Perez|first=Sarah|date=4 June 2021|title=TikTok just gave itself permission to collect biometric data on US users, including 'faceprints and voiceprints'|work=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/03/tiktok-just-gave-itself-permission-to-collect-biometric-data-on-u-s-users-including-faceprints-and-voiceprints/|access-date=3 July 2021}} Some experts reacted by calling the terms of collection and data use "vague" and "highly problematic".{{Cite news|last=McCluskey|first=Megan|date=14 June 2021|title=TikTok Has Started Collecting Your 'Faceprints' and 'Voiceprints.' Here's What It Could Do With Them|work=Time|url=https://time.com/6071773/tiktok-faceprints-voiceprints-privacy/|access-date=3 July 2021}} The same month, CNBC reported that former employees had stated that "the boundaries between TikTok and ByteDance were so blurry as to be almost non-existent" and that "ByteDance employees are able to access U.S. user data" on TikTok.{{Cite news|last=Rodriguez|first=Salvador|date=June 25, 2021|title=TikTok insiders say social media company is tightly controlled by Chinese parent ByteDance|work=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/25/tiktok-insiders-say-chinese-parent-bytedance-in-control.html|access-date=July 4, 2021}}

In October 2021, following the Facebook Files and controversies about social media ethics, a bipartisan group of lawmakers also pressed TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat on questions of data privacy and moderation for age appropriate content. The New York Times reported, "Lawmakers also hammered [head of U.S. policy at TikTok] Mr. Beckerman about whether TikTok's Chinese ownership could expose consumer data to Beijing," stating that "Critics have long argued that the company would be obligated to turn Americans' data over to the Chinese government if asked."{{Cite news|last=McCabe|first=David|last2=Conger|first2=Kate|last3=Wakabayashi|first3=Daisuke|date=2021-10-26|title=YouTube, Snap and TikTok executives take their turn answering to Washington.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/26/technology/youtube-snap-and-tiktok-executives-take-their-turn-answering-to-washington.html|access-date=2021-10-29|issn=0362-4331}} TikTok told U.S. lawmakers it does not give information to China's government. TikTok's representative stated that TikTok's data is stored in the U.S. with backups in Singapore. According to the company's representative, TikTok had 'no affiliation' with the subsidiary Beijing ByteDance Technology, in which the Chinese government has a minority stake and board seat.{{Cite news|last=Bartz|first=Diane|last2=Dang|first2=Sheila|date=2021-10-26|title=TikTok tells U.S. lawmakers it does not give information to China's government|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-tells-us-lawmakers-it-does-not-give-information-chinas-government-2021-10-26/|access-date=2021-10-29}}

{{See also|Children's Online Privacy Protection Act}}

On 27 February 2019, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined ByteDance U.S.$5.7 million for collecting information from minors under the age of 13 in violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.{{cite web|last=Lieber|first=Chavie|date=28 February 2019|title=TikTok is the latest social media platform accused of abusing children's privacy – now it's paying up|url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/28/18244996/tiktok-children-privacy-data-ftc-settlement|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831085424/https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/28/18244996/tiktok-children-privacy-data-ftc-settlement|archive-date=31 August 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=Vox}} ByteDance responded by adding a kids-only mode to TikTok which blocks the upload of videos, the building of user profiles, direct messaging, and commenting on others' videos, while still allowing the viewing and recording of content.{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Dami|title=TikTok stops young users from uploading videos after FTC settlement|work=The Verge|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/27/18243510/tiktok-age-young-user-videos-ftc-settlement-13-childrens-privacy-law|url-status=live|access-date=27 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228011906/https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/27/18243510/tiktok-age-young-user-videos-ftc-settlement-13-childrens-privacy-law|archive-date=28 February 2019}} In May 2020, an advocacy group filed a complaint with the FTC saying that TikTok had violated the terms of the February 2019 consent decree, which sparked subsequent Congressional calls for a renewed FTC investigation.{{Cite news|last=Bartz|first=Diane|date=14 May 2020|title=Advocacy group says TikTok violated FTC consent decree and children's privacy rules|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tiktok-privacy-children-ftc-idUSKBN22Q0E2|url-status=live|access-date=14 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514165854/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tiktok-privacy-children-ftc-idUSKBN22Q0E2|archive-date=14 May 2020}}{{cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=14 May 2020|title=TikTok Is Still Violating U.S. Child-Privacy Law, Groups Charge|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/tiktok-is-still-violating-u-s-child-privacy-law-groups-charge-1234606854/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527182217/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/tiktok-is-still-violating-u-s-child-privacy-law-groups-charge-1234606854/|archive-date=27 May 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Variety}}{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Dan|date=14 May 2020|title=Advocacy Groups Ask FTC to Reinvestigate TikTok Over Alleged COPPA Violations|url=https://www.law.com/corpcounsel/2020/05/14/advocacy-groups-ask-ftc-to-reinvestigate-tiktok-over-alleged-coppa-violations/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604115713/https://www.law.com/corpcounsel/2020/05/14/advocacy-groups-ask-ftc-to-reinvestigate-tiktok-over-alleged-coppa-violations/|archive-date=4 June 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=Corporate Counsel}}{{Cite news|last=Miller|first=Maggie|date=28 May 2020|title=Democrats call on FTC to investigate allegations of TikTok child privacy violations|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/499970-democrats-call-on-ftc-to-investigate-potential-tiktok-child-privacy|url-status=live|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603163346/https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/499970-democrats-call-on-ftc-to-investigate-potential-tiktok-child-privacy|archive-date=3 June 2020}} In July 2020, it was reported that the FTC and the United States Department of Justice had initiated investigations.{{Cite news|last=Bartz|first=Diane|date=8 July 2020|title=Exclusive: U.S. probing allegations TikTok violated children's privacy - sources|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tiktok-privacy-children-exclusive-idUSKBN248373|url-status=live|access-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708233112/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tiktok-privacy-children-exclusive-idUSKBN248373|archive-date=8 July 2020}}

In February 2019, the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office launched an investigation of TikTok following the fine ByteDance received from the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Speaking to a parliamentary committee, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said that the investigation focuses on the issues of private data collection, the kind of videos collected and shared by children online, as well as the platform's open messaging system which allows any adult to message any child. She noted that the company was potentially violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which requires the company to provide different services and different protections for children.{{Cite news|last=Hern|first=Alex|date=2 July 2019|title=TikTok under investigation over child data use|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/02/tiktok-under-investigation-over-child-data-use|url-status=live|access-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708081842/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/02/tiktok-under-investigation-over-child-data-use|archive-date=8 July 2020|issn=0261-3077}}

On 22 January 2021, the Italian Data Protection Authority ordered the blocking of the use of the data of users whose age has not been established on the social network.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-22|title=Italy takes action against Tik Tok following girl's death|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/nation/story/2021-01-22/italy-takes-action-against-tik-tok-following-girls-death|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129104045/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/nation/story/2021-01-22/italy-takes-action-against-tik-tok-following-girls-death|archive-date=29 January 2021|access-date=2021-01-22|website=San Diego Union-Tribune}}{{Cite web|title=Italy tells TikTok to block users after death of young girl|url=https://www.todayonline.com/world/italy-tells-tiktok-block-users-after-death-young-girl|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123055527/https://www.todayonline.com/world/italy-tells-tiktok-block-users-after-death-young-girl|archive-date=23 January 2021|access-date=2021-01-22|website=TODAYonline}} The order was issued after the death of a 10-year-old Sicilian girl, which occurred after the execution of a challenge shared by users of the platform that involved attempting to choke the user with a belt around the neck. The block is set to remain in place until 15 February, when it will be re-evaluated.{{Cite web|title=Italy tells TikTok to block users after death of young girl|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/italy-tells-tiktok-to-block-users-after-death-of-young-girl-2021-1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130074247/https://www.businessinsider.com/italy-tells-tiktok-to-block-users-after-death-of-young-girl-2021-1|archive-date=30 January 2021|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Business Insider}}

In September 2021, the Ireland Data Protection Commissioner opened investigations into TikTok concerning protection of minors' data and transfers of personal data to China.{{Cite news|last=Bodoni|first=Stephanie|date=September 14, 2021|title=TikTok Faces EU Data Probes Into Children's Safety, China Link|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-14/tiktok-faces-eu-data-probes-into-children-s-safety-china-link|access-date=September 14, 2021}}{{Cite news|date=September 14, 2021|title=TikTok's lead EU regulator opens two data privacy probes|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/ireland-regulator-opens-data-privacy-probes-into-tiktok-2021-09-14/|access-date=September 14, 2021}}

As with other platforms,{{cite web|title=Les dangers de Tik Tok pour vos enfants et comment s'en prémunir|url=https://www.cnetfrance.fr/news/les-dangers-de-tik-tok-pour-vos-enfants-et-comment-s-en-premunir-39876613.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024645/https://www.cnetfrance.fr/news/les-dangers-de-tik-tok-pour-vos-enfants-et-comment-s-en-premunir-39876613.htm|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=CNET France}} journalists in several countries have raised privacy concerns about the app, because it is popular with children and has the potential to be used by sexual predators.{{cite web|last=WSPA|date=20 September 2018|title=Tik Tok app raises concerns for young users|url=https://www.wnct.com/news/national/tik-tok-app-raises-concerns-for-young-users/1461767694|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301164646/https://www.wnct.com/news/national/tik-tok-app-raises-concerns-for-young-users/1461767694|archive-date=1 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=WNCT}}{{cite web|last=Zhang|first=Karen|title=Tik Tok, currently the world's most popular iPhone app, under fire over lack of privacy settings – Tech News – The Star Online|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2147993/tik-tok-worlds-most-popular-iphone-app-under-fire-over-lack|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303082457/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2147993/tik-tok-worlds-most-popular-iphone-app-under-fire-over-lack|archive-date=3 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=scmp.com}}{{cite web|last1=Koebler|first1=Jason|last2=Cox|first2=Joseph|date=6 December 2018|title=TikTok, the App Super Popular With Kids, Has a Nudes Problem|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j5zbmx/tiktok-the-app-super-popular-with-kids-has-a-nudes-problem|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228232537/https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j5zbmx/tiktok-the-app-super-popular-with-kids-has-a-nudes-problem|archive-date=28 February 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|work=Vice}}

Several users have reported endemic cyberbullying on TikTok,{{cite web|title=TikTok Creators Say They Are Being Bullied And The Company Isn't Helping|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krishrach/tik-tok-users-bullying-abuse-complaints|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024539/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krishrach/tik-tok-users-bullying-abuse-complaints|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=BuzzFeed News}}{{cite web|title=Clock is ticking: Experts urge caution as popularity of TikTok surges|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/jan/06/clock-is-ticking-experts-urge-caution-as-popularity-of-tiktok-surges-1921096.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302090558/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2019/jan/06/clock-is-ticking-experts-urge-caution-as-popularity-of-tiktok-surges-1921096.html|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=The New Indian Express}} including racism{{cite web|title=What is TikTok and is it safe?|url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/98559/what-is-tiktok-and-is-it-safe|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024726/https://www.theweek.co.uk/98559/what-is-tiktok-and-is-it-safe|archive-date=2 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019|website=The Week UK}} and ableism.{{cite web|last1=Drayton|first1=Tiffanie|date=13 May 2020|title=Mom of child with autism pleads with TikTok to remove 'Autism Challenge' videos|url=https://www.dailydot.com/irl/tiktok-autism-challenge/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210005101/https://www.dailydot.com/irl/tiktok-autism-challenge/|archive-date=10 December 2020|access-date=21 September 2020|website=The Daily Dot}}{{cite web|last1=Moss|first1=Haley|date=15 May 2020|title=As an autistic person, the offensive #AutismChallenge TikTok trend reinforced my decision to stay away from the app|url=https://www.insider.com/autismchallenge-tiktok-trend-will-keep-me-away-from-app-2020-5|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200519023445/https://www.insider.com/autismchallenge-tiktok-trend-will-keep-me-away-from-app-2020-5|archive-date=19 May 2020|access-date=21 September 2020|website=Insider}}{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Olivia|date=27 August 2020|title=The Latest TikTok Trend Is Bringing Out The Worst In People|url=https://gritdaily.com/the-latest-tiktok-trend-new-teacher-challenge/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001172158/https://gritdaily.com/the-latest-tiktok-trend-new-teacher-challenge/|archive-date=1 October 2020|access-date=21 September 2020|website=Grit Daily}} In December 2019, following a report by German digital rights group Netzpolitik.org, TikTok admitted that it had suppressed videos by disabled users as well as LGBTQ+ users in a purported effort to limit cyberbullying.{{Cite news|last=Lao|first=David|date=3 December 2019|title=TikTok admits to suppressing videos from some persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2 community|publisher=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6250923/tiktok-policy-suppressing-persons-lgbtq-disabilities/|url-status=live|access-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206004235/https://globalnews.ca/news/6250923/tiktok-policy-suppressing-persons-lgbtq-disabilities/|archive-date=6 December 2019}} TikTok's moderators were also told to suppress users with "abnormal body shape", "ugly facial looks", "too many wrinkles", or in "slums, rural fields" and "dilapidated housing" to prevent bullying.{{cite web|last1=Biddle|first1=Sam|last2=Ribeiro|first2=Paulo Victor|last3=Dias|first3=Tatiana|date=16 March 2020|title=Invisible Censorship: TikTok Told Moderators to Suppress Posts by "Ugly" People and the Poor to Attract New Users|url=https://theintercept.com/2020/03/16/tiktok-app-moderators-users-discrimination/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317011112/https://theintercept.com/2020/03/16/tiktok-app-moderators-users-discrimination/|archive-date=17 March 2020|access-date=27 May 2020|website=The Intercept}}

In 2021 the platform revealed that it will be introducing a feature that will prevent teenagers from receiving notifications past their bedtime. The company will no longer send push notifications after 9pm to users aged between 13 and 15. For 16-year-olds and those aged 17 notifications will not be sent after 10pm.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-12|title=TikTok acts on teen safety with 'bedtime' block on app alerts|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/12/tiktok-acts-on-teen-safety-with-bedtime-block-on-app-alerts|access-date=2021-08-16|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

TikTok has received criticism for enabling children to spend large sums of money purchasing coins to send to other users.{{Cite web|date=2 September 2019|title=Girl, 11, blows mum's £3500 savings lip syncing with influencer on TikTok|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/girl-11-blows-mums-3500-19122959|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421161137/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/girl-11-blows-mums-3500-19122959|archive-date=21 April 2021|access-date=21 April 2021}}

Tencent's WeChat platform has been accused of blocking Douyin's videos.{{Cite news|title=Tencent and Toutiao come out swinging at each other|url=https://asiatimes.com/article/tencent-and-toutiao-come-out-swinging-at-each-other/|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524231909/https://asiatimes.com/2018/06/tencent-and-toutiao-come-out-swinging-at-each-other/|archive-date=24 May 2021}}{{Cite news|title=Tencent sues Toutiao for alleged defamation, demands 1 yuan and apology|work=TODAYonline|url=https://www.todayonline.com/world/tencent-sues-toutiao-alleged-defamation-demands-1-yuan-and-apology|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011133612/https://www.todayonline.com/world/tencent-sues-toutiao-alleged-defamation-demands-1-yuan-and-apology|archive-date=11 October 2018}} In April 2018, Douyin sued Tencent and accused it of spreading false and damaging information on its WeChat platform, demanding CN¥1 million in compensation and an apology. In June 2018, Tencent filed a lawsuit against Toutiao and Douyin in a Beijing court, alleging they had repeatedly defamed Tencent with negative news and damaged its reputation, seeking a nominal sum of CN¥1 in compensation and a public apology.{{Cite news|last=Jiang|first=Sijia|date=1 June 2018|title=Tencent sues Toutiao for alleged defamation, demands 1 yuan and apology|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tencent-toutiao-lawsuit/tencent-sues-toutiao-for-alleged-defamation-demands-1-yuan-and-apology-idUSKCN1IX4MB|url-status=live|access-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011133631/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tencent-toutiao-lawsuit/tencent-sues-toutiao-for-alleged-defamation-demands-1-yuan-and-apology-idUSKCN1IX4MB|archive-date=11 October 2018}} In response, Toutiao filed a complaint the following day against Tencent for allegedly unfair competition and asking for CN¥90 million in economic losses.{{Cite news|last=Yijun|first=Yin|date=June 4, 2018|title=Tencent and ByteDance Take Ongoing Feud to Court|work=Sixth Tone|url=https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002406/tencent-and-bytedance-take-ongoing-feud-to-court|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125202442/https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002406/tencent-and-bytedance-take-ongoing-feud-to-court|archive-date=25 November 2020}}

In November 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed in California that alleged that TikTok transferred personally identifiable information of U.S. persons to servers located in China owned by Tencent and Alibaba.{{cite news|date=3 December 2019|title=TikTok sent user data to China, US lawsuit claims|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50640110|url-status=live|access-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205021729/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50640110|archive-date=5 December 2019}}{{cite news|last=Montgomery|first=Blake|date=2 December 2019|title=California Class-Action Lawsuit Accuses TikTok of Illegally Harvesting Data and Sending It to China|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/california-class-action-lawsuit-accuses-tiktok-of-illegally-harvesting-data-and-sending-it-to-china|url-status=live|access-date=4 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203142027/https://www.thedailybeast.com/california-class-action-lawsuit-accuses-tiktok-of-illegally-harvesting-data-and-sending-it-to-china|archive-date=3 December 2019}}{{cite news|last=Chen|first=Angela|date=5 December 2019|title=TikTok's second lawsuit in a week brings a US ban a shade closer|work=MIT Technology Review|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/f/614859/tiktok-lawsuit-privacy-china-cfius-investigation-global-internet/|url-status=live|access-date=5 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023725/https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/12/05/75079/tiktok-lawsuit-privacy-china-cfius-investigation-global-internet/|archive-date=22 August 2020}} The lawsuit also accused ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, of taking user content without their permission. The plaintiff of the lawsuit, college student Misty Hong, downloaded the app but said she never created an account. She realized a few months later that TikTok has created an account for her using her information (such as biometric) and made a summary of her information. The lawsuit also alleged that information was sent to Chinese tech giant Baidu.{{cite web|last=Narendra|first=Meera|date=4 December 2019|title=#Privacy: TikTok found secretly transferring user data to China|url=https://gdpr.report/news/2019/12/04/privacy-tiktok-found-secretly-transferring-user-data-to-china/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023718/https://gdpr.report/news/2019/12/04/privacy-tiktok-found-secretly-transferring-user-data-to-china/|archive-date=22 August 2020|access-date=25 May 2020}} In July 2020, twenty lawsuits against TikTok were merged into a single class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.{{cite news|last=Allyn|first=Bobby|date=4 August 2020|title=Class-Action Lawsuit Claims TikTok Steals Kids' Data And Sends It To China|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/04/898836158/class-action-lawsuit-claims-tiktok-steals-kids-data-and-sends-it-to-china|url-status=live|access-date=4 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822023655/https://www.npr.org/2020/08/04/898836158/class-action-lawsuit-claims-tiktok-steals-kids-data-and-sends-it-to-china|archive-date=22 August 2020}} In February 2021, TikTok agreed to pay $92 million to settle the class action lawsuit.{{Cite news|last=Allyn|first=Bobby|date=February 25, 2021|title=TikTok To Pay $92 Million To Settle Class-Action Suit Over 'Theft' Of Personal Data|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/25/971460327/tiktok-to-pay-92-million-to-settle-class-action-suit-over-theft-of-personal-data|url-status=live|access-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226180745/https://www.npr.org/2021/02/25/971460327/tiktok-to-pay-92-million-to-settle-class-action-suit-over-theft-of-personal-data|archive-date=26 February 2021}}

In May 2021, Canadian voice actor Bev Standing filed a lawsuit against TikTok overuse of her voice in a filter without permission. The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York. TikTok declined to comment. She believes the company used recordings made for the Chinese government-run Institute of Acoustics.{{cite news|last=Dunne|first=James|date=12 May 2021|title=Why a Canadian actor is suing social media giant TikTok's parent company|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canadian-actor-suing-tiktok-1.6024369|url-status=live|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513024001/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canadian-actor-suing-tiktok-1.6024369|archive-date=13 May 2021}}

In June 2021, the Netherlands-based Market Information Research Foundation (SOMI) filed a €1.4 billion lawsuit on behalf of Dutch parents against TikTok, alleging that the app gathers data on children without adequate permission.{{Cite news|last=Culatto|first=John|date=June 2, 2021|title=Dutch parents sue TikTok for €1.4 billion|work=Deutsche Welle|url=https://www.dw.com/en/dutch-parents-sue-tiktok-for-14-billion/a-57762350|access-date=June 10, 2021}}

• Likee
• List of most-liked TikTok videos
• List of most-followed TikTok accounts
• Timeline of social media
• Triller
• Byte

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.tiktok.com/en/ Official website] {{in lang|en}}
• [https://www.bytedance.com/en/ ByteDance official website] {{in lang|en}}
• [https://www.douyin.com/ Douyin] {{in lang|zh}}

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