TikTok facts for kids
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Screenshot of TikTok.com homepage
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| Developer(s) | ByteDance |
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| Initial release | September 2016 |
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| Available in | 40 languages |
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List of languages
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| Type | Video sharing |
| License | Proprietary |
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Screenshot of Douyin.com homepage
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| Developer(s) | Beijing Microlive Vision Technology Co., Ltd | ||||||||
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| Initial release | 20 September 2016 | ||||||||
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| Available in | Simplified Chinese, English | ||||||||
| Type | Video sharing | ||||||||
| License | Proprietary | ||||||||
| Douyin | |||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese | 抖音 | ||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Vibrating sound" | ||||||||||||||||
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TikTok is a very popular app for sharing short videos. It is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. TikTok lets you watch and create videos that can be from three seconds to 10 minutes long. You can use it on your smartphone or tablet.
TikTok has become one of the most used social media apps in the world. It uses special computer programs called algorithms to suggest videos you might like. This helps new video creators find an audience. Many young people, especially those from Generation Z, use TikTok. In 2021, TikTok was even more popular than Google for website visits. Its popularity has led to many viral trends in food and music. This has made TikTok very important in global culture.
However, TikTok has also faced some challenges. People have worried about how it handles your private information. There have also been concerns about how it might affect mental health. Sometimes, wrong information or upsetting content can spread on the app. Some countries have even tried to limit or ban TikTok. This is often because of worries about user data being collected by the Chinese government.
Contents
How TikTok Started
Douyin's Beginning
Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok. It was launched by ByteDance in September 2016. It was first called A.me, then changed to Douyin in December 2016. The app was created in just 200 days! Within a year, it had 100 million users. People watched over one billion videos on Douyin every day.
TikTok and Douyin look similar, but they work separately. Douyin has extra features like searching for videos by people's faces. You can also use it to buy things, book hotels, and leave reviews about places.
TikTok's Global Launch
ByteDance wanted to make Douyin popular all over the world. The founder, Zhang Yiming, believed they needed to expand globally to succeed. So, TikTok was created as the international version of Douyin. It launched in September 2017.
In November 2017, ByteDance bought another app called Musical.ly for almost $1 billion. Musical.ly was a social media app where users made short lip-sync and comedy videos. On August 2, 2018, TikTok and Musical.ly joined together. All the old accounts and data from Musical.ly moved to the TikTok app.
TikTok quickly became very popular. By January 2018, it was the most downloaded free app in Thailand and other countries. It has been downloaded over 2 billion times worldwide.
Many famous people started using TikTok in 2018, like Jimmy Fallon and Tony Hawk. Later, stars like Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, and Justin Bieber also joined. In 2019, TikTok allowed creators to sell merchandise directly through their videos.
In September 2019, TikTok partnered with the U.S. National Football League (NFL). This deal created an official NFL TikTok account. It also brought new ways to promote the NFL, like sponsored videos and hashtag challenges. By July 2020, TikTok had almost 800 million active users each month around the world.
In September 2021, TikTok announced it had reached 1 billion users. The company also started exploring e-commerce, like online shopping, with TikTok Shop in the UK. They plan to expand this to the US.
Cool Things You Can Do on TikTok
The TikTok app lets you make short videos. You can add music, speed up or slow down your video, and use cool filters. You can even record your own sound over the background music. To make a music video, you pick a song, add a filter, and record a 15-second video. Then you can share it with others.
Your "For You" Page
The "For You" page is a special feed of videos just for you. TikTok's smart computer program (AI) suggests videos based on what you like, interact with, or search for. This helps you discover new content and helps creators reach new people. Unlike other social apps, TikTok's suggestions are not just based on your friends.
TikTok's algorithm is very good at understanding what users like. It watches how you interact with videos, not just if you like them. This helps it show you more content that you will enjoy. Many users find it hard to stop watching videos because the suggestions are so good!
Video Features
- React: This feature lets you record your reaction to another video. Your reaction video appears in a small window on top of the original video.
- Duet: You can film a video right next to another video. This was also a popular feature on Musical.ly. Both people need to allow duets in their privacy settings.
- Drafts: If you make a video but don't want to post it right away, you can save it as a "draft." You can post it later when you are ready.
Privacy Settings
When you first download TikTok, your account is usually public. But you can change it to "private" in your settings. If your account is private, only people you approve can see your content. TikTok can still see your private content, though.
You can also choose who can interact with you. This includes who can comment, send messages, or make "react" or "duet" videos with you. You can also set individual videos to be "public," "friends only," or "private."
You can send videos, emojis, and messages to your friends directly. TikTok also has a feature to create a video based on comments you receive.
Going Live and Gifting
Some popular creators use the "live" feature to broadcast themselves in real-time. To go live, you usually need at least 1,000 followers and be over 16 years old. If you are over 18, your followers can send you virtual "gifts." These gifts can later be turned into real money.
Family Safety Mode
In February 2020, TikTok added a "family safety mode." This helps parents control their children's use of the app. It includes options for:
- Managing screen time.
- Using a restricted mode to filter content.
- Limiting direct messages.
In September 2020, they improved this feature, called "Family Pairing." It gives parents resources to understand what their children see on TikTok.
Tipping Creators
In October 2021, TikTok started testing a feature that lets users directly tip creators. If a creator is old enough and has at least 100,000 followers, they can add a "Tip" button to their profile. Followers can then tip any amount, starting from $1.
TikTok Music
In July 2023, TikTok launched a new music streaming service called TikTok Music. It is currently available in some countries like Brazil and Indonesia. This service lets users listen to, download, and share songs. It includes music from major record companies.
Popular Content on TikTok
Viral Trends and Stars
TikTok is famous for creating many viral trends and making people into Internet celebrities. The "Duet" feature, where users add their own video to an existing one, has started many of these trends.
Many stars who started on Musical.ly became famous on TikTok. These include Loren Gray and Charli D'Amelio. Charli D'Amelio was the first person to reach 50, 60, and 70 million followers on TikTok. Later, Khaby Lame became the most-followed person on the platform.
TikTok has also helped many music artists reach a bigger audience. For example, the song "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X became a huge hit partly because of TikTok. Older songs, like "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac and "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush, also became popular again thanks to TikTok videos.
In 2020, TikTok users and K-pop fans reportedly signed up for many tickets to a political rally. This led to many empty seats at the event. Later, a group called TikTok for Biden was formed to support Joe Biden's election campaign.
A fun project called Ratatouille the Musical started on TikTok. Users created songs, costumes, and even a playbill for a musical based on the Pixar movie Ratatouille. A full virtual show was later performed with famous actors.
Food and Recipes
TikTok is a great place to find new food trends and recipes. Many users share quick and easy cooking videos. This has made certain dishes or cooking styles very popular.
Fashion and Body Size
TikTok has also helped people talk about "midsize" fashion. This is for people who are not petite, straight, or plus-size. Creators share honest videos about how clothes fit different body types. This helps many people who struggle to find clothes that fit well.
STEM Content
In March 2023, TikTok added a special feed just for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content. This section works with other groups to make sure the content is safe, age-appropriate, and reliable.
Safety and Privacy Concerns
How TikTok Collects Data
People have raised concerns about how TikTok collects your private information. TikTok's privacy policy says it collects things like:
- Information about how you use the app.
- Your IP address (your device's internet address).
- Your mobile carrier.
- Unique numbers that identify your device.
- How you type on your keyboard.
- Your location data.
- What you seem interested in based on videos you watch.
- Content you create.
TikTok can share this information with its parent company, ByteDance. The company says it has rules and a US-based team to control who can access this data. In June 2021, TikTok updated its policy to say it might collect biometric data, like "faceprints and voiceprints," for special effects. They said they would ask for permission if local laws require it.
Worries About Chinese Government Access
A big concern is whether the Chinese government could get user data from TikTok's owner, ByteDance. China has a law that says all organizations and citizens must "support, assist and cooperate with national intelligence efforts." Some experts worry this means the Chinese government could ask for TikTok's user data. However, the United States has not shown any proof that TikTok has shared such information with Chinese authorities.
Project Texas
To address these worries, TikTok started "Project Texas." This plan aims to keep US user data separate and safe within the United States. It would be overseen by the US government or a third party like Oracle. A new company, TikTok U.S. Data Security Inc. (USDS), was created to manage user data and software. This new company would report to a US government committee, not ByteDance or TikTok. Oracle would also check the data and approve software updates.
Rules and Investigations
US Federal Trade Commission
In February 2019, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined ByteDance $5.7 million. This was because TikTok collected information from children under 13, which is against a law called COPPA. In response, TikTok added a special "kids-only mode." This mode stops kids from uploading videos, creating profiles, or direct messaging.
European and UK Regulators
In September 2021, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) started looking into how TikTok protects children's data and transfers personal data to China. In September 2023, the DPC fined TikTok €345 million for not handling children's data correctly.
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) also investigated TikTok. They looked at data collection from children and the app's messaging system. In April 2023, the ICO fined TikTok £12.7 million for misusing children's data.
Restrictions and Bans
Some countries and organizations have placed restrictions or bans on TikTok. These actions are usually due to concerns about national security and data privacy.
United States
In January 2020, the US Army and Navy banned TikTok on government devices. This was because the Defense Department saw it as a security risk.
Federal Government Bans
In August 2020, then-President Donald Trump tried to ban TikTok transactions in the US. He later ordered ByteDance to sell its US TikTok business, saying there was "credible evidence" of a national security threat.
In June 2021, new President Joe Biden removed Trump's ban. Instead, he asked the Secretary of Commerce to investigate if the app was a threat.
On December 27, 2022, the US House of Representatives banned TikTok from all devices they manage. On December 30, 2022, President Biden signed a law banning TikTok on most federal government devices.
In March 2024, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that could ban TikTok completely unless ByteDance sells it. This bill was later included in a larger foreign aid package and signed into law by President Biden in April 2024.
State Government Bans
As of February 2023, at least 32 US states have banned TikTok on government-issued devices. These bans only affect government employees and do not stop regular people from using the app on their personal phones.
Partnerships
TikTok has partnered with various organizations. In April 2021, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism worked with TikTok to promote tourism.
TikTok also partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to support small Latino businesses. They gave $5000 grants to 40 businesses.
For the 2024 Summer Olympics, TikTok and Team GB (Great Britain's Olympic team) signed a sponsorship deal. This helps UK athletes connect with new audiences.
Charities
Many charities use TikTok to raise money and educate people, especially younger audiences. Examples include the Oregon Zoo, Shelter, and the British Red Cross. Some TikTok influencers also run their own events to raise money for good causes. TikTok created "TikTok For Good" to help with fundraising on the platform.
In 2019, TikTok launched the #EduTok Mentorship program in India. This program offered live workshops where creators shared educational content.
Images for kids
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The BookTok section at a Barnes & Noble store in 2022
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- Cultural impact of TikTok
- List of most-followed TikTok accounts
- Timeline of social media
