History of TikTok in Timeline
TikTok is a social media platform centered around short-form video content. Users can create and share videos ranging from a few seconds to extended durations. Accessible via mobile app and website, it has become a dominant force in online video sharing and social networking.
1989: Censorship guidelines could prohibit content related to Tiananmen Square protests
In 1989, TikTok's internal guidelines against the promotion of violence, separatism, and 'demonization of countries' could be used to prohibit content related to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.
1998: Censorship guidelines could prohibit content related to the 1998 Indonesian riots
In 1998, TikTok's internal guidelines against the promotion of violence, separatism, and 'demonization of countries' could be used to prohibit content related to the 1998 Indonesian riots.
2002: Osama bin Laden's Letter to the American People Published
In 2002, Osama bin Laden wrote and published his "Letter to the American People". In November 2023, it went viral on TikTok.
August 2014: Musical.ly Initial Release
In August 2014, Musical.ly was initially released as a social media video platform.
September 2016: Douyin Launched by ByteDance
On 20 September 2016, ByteDance launched Douyin (抖音), originally under the name A.me.
December 2016: Douyin Renamed
In December 2016, A.me changed its name to Douyin (抖音).
2016: Fitz and the Tantrums Developed a Following in South Korea
In 2016, 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 TikTok.
September 2017: TikTok Launched Internationally
In September 2017, ByteDance launched TikTok in the international market as an overseas version of Douyin.
November 2017: ByteDance Acquires Musical.ly
On 9 November 2017, ByteDance acquired Musical.ly for nearly $1 billion.
2017: CFIUS Investigates TikTok Merger
Since at least 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been investigating TikTok's 2017 merger with Musical.ly.
January 2018: TikTok Ranks First in App Store Downloads in Thailand
On 23 January 2018, the TikTok app ranked first among free application downloads on app stores in Thailand and other countries.
April 2018: Douyin Adds Addiction-Reduction Feature
In April 2018, Douyin added an addiction-reduction feature that encouraged users to take a break every 90 minutes.
August 2018: TikTok Merges with Musical.ly
On 2 August 2018, TikTok merged with Musical.ly, consolidating existing accounts and data into one app, retaining the TikTok title.
August 2018: Musical.ly Merged with TikTok
On August 2, 2018, Musical.ly merged with TikTok, leading to the rise of many stars.
October 2018: TikTok Becomes Most Downloaded App in the US
In October 2018, after merging with musical.ly in August, downloads increased and TikTok became the most downloaded app in the US.
2018: China regulates Douyin for minors
In 2018, China heavily regulated how Douyin was used by minors, introducing parental controls and "teenage mode" with whitelisted content and restrictions on pranks and pro-LGBT content.
2018: Limited privacy settings on TikTok
In 2018, TikTok offered only two privacy settings (private or completely public), without a middle ground, raising concerns about potential misuse of user data.
2018: TikTok Downloads on Apple's App Store
In 2018, TikTok was downloaded over 104 million times on Apple's App Store during the first half of the year.
2018: Vox Notes Reduced Bullying on TikTok Compared to Other Platforms
In 2018, Vox reported that instances of bullying and trolling were less frequent on TikTok in comparison to other social media platforms.
2018: Celebrities Start Using TikTok
In 2018, celebrities like Jimmy Fallon, Tony Hawk, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Alba, Will Smith, and Justin Bieber began using the TikTok app.
January 2019: TikTok Allows Merchandise Sale Links
In January 2019, TikTok allowed creators to embed merchandise sale links into their videos.
February 2019: TikTok and Douyin Reach One Billion Downloads
In February 2019, TikTok, together with Douyin, reached one billion downloads globally, excluding Android installs in China.
February 2019: UK's ICO Launches Investigation of TikTok
In February 2019, the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) launched an investigation of TikTok following the fine ByteDance received from the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
February 2019: FTC Fines ByteDance for Collecting Data from Minors
On February 27, 2019, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached a consent decree with ByteDance, fining it US$5.7 million for collecting information from minors under the age of 13 in violation of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). ByteDance responded by adding a kids-only mode to TikTok.
May 2019: Chipotle partners with David Dobrik
In May 2019, Chipotle partnered with David Dobrik, marking a notable collaboration between a large brand and a top TikTok influencer.
August 2019: Popular Celebrities on Douyin
As of August 2019, Dilraba Dilmurat, Angelababy, Luo Zhixiang, Ouyang Nana, and Pan Changjiang had garnered large followings on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
September 2019: TikTok Partners with NFL
On 3 September 2019, TikTok and the US National Football League (NFL) announced a multi-year partnership, including the launch of an official NFL TikTok account.
October 2019: TikTok Removes ISIL Propaganda Accounts
In October 2019, TikTok removed about two dozen accounts responsible for posting ISIL propaganda and execution videos on the app.
December 2019: TikTok Admits Suppressing Videos by Disabled and LGBTQ+ Users
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 temporary effort to limit cyberbullying.
2019: TikTok usage in India
In 2019, 43% of new TikTok users were from India before the platform was banned in the country.
2019: TikTok Censorship Policies Criticized
In 2019, The Guardian reported that TikTok had censored videos of topics not favored by the Chinese government. That year, TikTok took down a video about human rights abuses in the Xinjiang internment camps against Uyghurs but restored it after 50 minutes, saying that the action was a mistake.
2019: #EduTok Mentorship program launched
In 2019, TikTok announced the #EduTok Mentorship program, a live workshop series inspired by the hashtag #EduTok, where video creators present facts for educational purposes.
2019: TikTok's Impact on "Old Town Road"
In 2019, TikTok played a major part in making "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X one of the biggest songs of the year and the longest-running number-one song in the history of the US Billboard Hot 100.
January 2020: Vulnerability Discovered in TikTok's SMS Messages
In January 2020, Check Point Research discovered a vulnerability through which a hacker could spoof TikTok's official SMS messages and replace them with malicious links to gain access to user accounts. The vulnerability was later patched by TikTok.
January 2020: Media Matters Reports COVID-19 Misinformation on TikTok
In January 2020, Media Matters for America said that TikTok hosted misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic despite a recent policy against misinformation.
January 2020: US Army and Navy ban TikTok on government devices
In January 2020, the United States Army and Navy prohibited the use of TikTok on government devices, citing security risks identified by the Defense Department.
February 2020: TikTok Announced "Family Safety Mode"
In February 2020, TikTok announced a "family safety mode" allowing parents to control their children's app usage through screen time management, restricted mode, and direct message limits.
March 2020: Charli D'Amelio Surpassed Loren Gray as Most-Followed on TikTok
On March 25, 2020, Charli D'Amelio surpassed Loren Gray as the most-followed individual on TikTok, with Gray being the first account to reach 40 million followers.
April 2020: TikTok Surpasses Two Billion Downloads
In April 2020, TikTok exceeded two billion mobile downloads worldwide, marking a significant milestone in its growth.
April 2020: India Asks TikTok to Remove COVID-19 Misinformation
In April 2020, the government of India asked TikTok to remove users posting misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: Complaint Filed with FTC Alleging TikTok Violated Consent Decree
In May 2020, an advocacy group filed a complaint with the FTC stating that TikTok had violated the terms of the February 2019 consent decree with the FTC. This led to congressional calls for a renewed FTC investigation.
June 2020: Conspiracy Theories Popular on TikTok
By June 2020, conspiracy theories like Pizzagate and QAnon had become popular on TikTok, reaching almost 80 million and 50 million views respectively. TikTok has banned Holocaust denial, but other conspiracy theories have become popular on the platform. The platform has also been used to spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: TikTok Users and K-pop Fans "Registered" Tickets for Trump's Rally
In June 2020, TikTok users and K-pop fans "claimed to have registered potentially hundreds of thousands of tickets" for Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, contributing to "rows of empty seats" at the event.
July 2020: TikTok Reports Close to 800 Million Monthly Active Users
In July 2020, TikTok, excluding Douyin, reported close to 800 million monthly active users worldwide.
August 2020: Report Alleges TikTok Tracked Android User Data in Violation of Google's Policies
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.
August 2020: "Ode to Remy" Song Rose to Popularity
On 10 August 2020, Emily Jacobssen wrote and sang "Ode to Remy", a song praising the protagonist from Pixar's 2007 computer-animated film Ratatouille on TikTok. The song rose to popularity when musician Daniel Mertzlufft composed a backing track to the song.
August 2020: Kevin A. Mayer Resigns as TikTok CEO
On 27 August 2020, Kevin A. Mayer resigned from his position as CEO of TikTok.
August 2020: President Trump orders ban on TikTok transactions unless sold by ByteDance
On August 6, 2020, US President Donald Trump signed an order that would ban TikTok transactions in 45 days if ByteDance did not sell the app. On August 14, 2020, he issued another order, giving ByteDance 90 days to sell or spin off its US TikTok business, citing concerns that ByteDance might threaten US national security.
September 2020: Dunkin' Donuts partners with Charli D'Amelio
In September 2020, Dunkin' Donuts partnered with Charli D'Amelio, marking a notable collaboration between a large brand and a top TikTok influencer.
September 2020: TikTok Expanded "Family Pairing" Feature
In September 2020, TikTok expanded its parental controls with a feature called "Family Pairing," providing educational resources in partnership with Internet Matters to help parents understand their children's exposure on TikTok.
September 2020: ByteDance and Oracle Confirm Cloud Hosting Partnership
In September 2020, a deal was confirmed between ByteDance and Oracle in which the latter will serve as a partner to provide cloud hosting.
September 2020: Suicide Video Circulates on TikTok
In September 2020, a suicide video circulated on TikTok, appearing among the recommended clips of the 'For You' section. TikTok has worked to remove such graphic content from its platform.
October 2020: Shopify integrates with TikTok for e-commerce
In October 2020, Shopify integrated TikTok into its portfolio of social media platforms, enabling online merchants to directly sell their products to consumers on TikTok.
October 2020: TikTok for Biden Organization Created
In October 2020, an organization called TikTok for Biden was created to support then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. After the election, the organization was renamed to Gen-Z for Change.
November 2020: TikTok Signs Licensing Deal with Sony Music
In November 2020, TikTok signed a licensing deal with Sony Music.
December 2020: Warner Music Group Signs Licensing Deal with TikTok
In December 2020, Warner Music Group signed a licensing deal with TikTok.
2020: CIA finds no evidence of Chinese government accessing TikTok user data
According to a 2020 article in The New York Times, Central Intelligence Agency analysts determined that while the Chinese government could potentially obtain user information from TikTok, there was no evidence that it had done so.
2020: Charli D'Amelio Made a #NoseJobCheck Video
In 2020, Charli D'Amelio, the most-followed person on TikTok at the time, made a #NoseJobCheck video to show the results of her surgery to repair a broken nose.
2020: Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" Re-entered Billboard Hot 100
In 2020, Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" was used in a skating video and a recreation by Mick Fleetwood on TikTok. The song re-entered Billboard Hot 100 after 43 years and topped Apple Music.
2020: TikTok's algorithm recognized by The New York Times
In 2020, The New York Times recognized TikTok's algorithm as highly advanced for shaping user experiences and social interactions, differing from other platforms by monitoring a wider range of user behaviors during video viewing.
2020: TikTok Food Trends Emerged
In 2020, TikTok food trends gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people spent time cooking at home and engaging with social media for entertainment.
2020: TikTok launches Creator Fund
In 2020, TikTok introduced the Creator Fund to monetize content for creators meeting specific requirements and residing in eligible areas.
2020: TikTok bans content promoting "premium sexual content"
In 2020, TikTok updated its terms of service to ban content that promotes "premium sexual content", impacting adult content creators on the platform.
2020: TikTok Hosted misinformation in the second half of 2020
In the second half of 2020, over 340,000 videos in the US about election misinformation and 50,000 videos of COVID-19 misinformation were removed from TikTok.
2020: CFIUS Investigates TikTok Merger
Since at least 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been investigating TikTok's 2017 merger with Musical.ly.
2020: US-based CEO Takes Over Important Decisions
TikTok stated that, since 2020, its US-based CEO is responsible for making important decisions, downplaying its connection to China.
January 2021: #NoseJobCheck Trend Went Viral on TikTok
By January 2021, the hashtag #nosejob had accumulated 1.6 billion views, #nosejobcheck had accumulated 1 billion views, and the audio used in the #NoseJobCheck trend had been used in 120,000 videos on TikTok.
January 2021: Virtual Presentation of Ratatouille the Musical Premiered
On 1 January 2021, a full one-hour virtual presentation of Ratatouille the Musical, a crowdsourced project that started on TikTok, premiered on TodayTix.
January 2021: Italian Data Protection Authority demands age verification
On 22 January 2021, the Italian Data Protection Authority demanded TikTok temporarily suspend Italian users whose age could not be established, following the death of a 10-year-old girl involved in an Internet challenge.
February 2021: Most Popular Plastic Surgeons on TikTok Surpassed 1 Million Followers
By February 2021, five different plastic surgeons had surpassed 1 million followers on TikTok.
March 2021: Citizen Lab study finds TikTok data collection within industry norms
A March 2021 study by the Citizen Lab found that TikTok did not collect data beyond industry norms, its stated policy, or without additional user permission.
March 2021: Citizen Lab Study on TikTok Censorship
In March 2021, a study by the Citizen Lab found that TikTok did not censor searches politically but was inconclusive about whether posts are.
April 2021: Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism partners with TikTok to promote tourism
In April 2021, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism partnered with TikTok to promote tourism in the city.
May 2021: Shou Zi Chew Appointed as TikTok CEO
In May 2021, Shou Zi Chew was appointed as the new CEO of TikTok, taking over from interim CEO Vanessa Pappas.
June 2021: TikTok Apologizes After Graphic Beheading Video Goes Viral
In June 2021, TikTok apologized after a shock video, showing a girl dancing which then cuts to a graphic scene of a man being beheaded by a saw, went viral. The video has been put on TikTok's blacklist.
June 2021: TikTok updates privacy policy to potentially collect biometric data
In June 2021, TikTok updated its privacy policy to potentially collect biometric data, including "faceprints and voiceprints", for special effects and other purposes.
June 2021: President Biden revokes Trump administration ban on TikTok
In June 2021, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order revoking the previous administration's ban on TikTok and directed the Secretary of Commerce to investigate whether the app posed a threat to US national security.
July 2021: Dutch Data Protection Authority fines TikTok
In July 2021, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined TikTok €750,000 for offering privacy statements only in English, not in Dutch. TikTok also raised the minimum age for livestreaming to 18.
September 2021: TikTok Reaches 1 Billion Users
In September 2021, TikTok reported reaching 1 billion users, marking a major milestone.
September 2021: Ireland DPC Launches Investigations into TikTok
In September 2021, the Ireland Data Protection Commission (DPC) launched investigations into TikTok concerning the protection of minors' data and transfers of personal data to China. The Irish DPC became the lead agency after TikTok established an office in the country.
October 2021: TikTok Launched Tipping Feature
In October 2021, TikTok launched a test feature allowing users with at least 100,000 followers to receive tips directly from their followers, starting from $1.
October 2021: US Lawmakers Question TikTok on Data Privacy
In October 2021, a bipartisan group of United States lawmakers pressed TikTok, along with YouTube and Snapchat, on data privacy and age-appropriate content moderation. Lawmakers questioned whether consumer data could be turned over to the Chinese government through ByteDance, its parent company. TikTok stated it does not give information to the Chinese government, and US user data is stored within the country with backups in Singapore.
December 2021: Article About Plastic Surgeons on TikTok Published
In December 2021, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, published an article about the popularity of some plastic surgeons on TikTok.
December 2021: TikTok Beta-Tested Live Studio Streaming Software
In December 2021, TikTok began beta-testing Live Studio, a streaming software for broadcasting applications open on computers, including games, and supporting mobile and PC streaming.
2021: Meta Hired Firm to Run Anti-TikTok Campaign
According to The Washington Post, Meta hired the Republican consulting firm Targeted Victory to run a campaign aimed at turning public opinion against TikTok. The campaign also sought to deflect attention from criticisms of Meta's own privacy and antitrust issues.
2021: TikTok's user base predominantly Generation Z
As of 2021, 41% of TikTok users were between the ages of 16 and 24, considered Generation Z.
2021: TikTok Ranked Most Popular Website
In 2021, Cloudflare ranked TikTok as the most popular website, surpassing Google, highlighting TikTok's rise in online prominence.
2021: Snapchat Pays Creators
In 2021, Snapchat had paid out $250 million to its creators as competition increased from services such as TikTok.
2021: BookTok drives book sales
In 2021, The New York Times reported that viral TikTok videos tagged as "BookTok" significantly drove sales of literature, leading publishers to use the platform for influencer marketing.
2021: The Wall Street Journal Highlighted TikTok's Algorithmic Superiority
In 2021, The Wall Street Journal highlighted TikTok's algorithm as superior to other social media platforms in understanding user preferences and emotions.
2021: TikTok to Prevent Teenagers from Receiving Notifications Past Bedtime
In 2021, TikTok announced a feature to prevent teenagers from receiving notifications after their bedtime. The company will not send push notifications after 9 pm to users aged 13 to 15, and after 10 pm for those aged 16 to 17.
2021: Kia and Hyundai Cars Manufactured without Immobilizers
In 2021, a TikTok trend known as the Kia Challenge involves users stealing certain models of Kia and Hyundai cars manufactured without immobilizers, which was a standard feature at the time, between 2010 and 2021.
2021: TikTok Initiates Project Texas to Address US Security Concerns
In 2021, in response to security concerns from the United States government, TikTok began working on Project Texas. This initiative focuses on siloing privileged user data within the United States under oversight from the US government or a third party like Oracle. A new subsidiary, TikTok US Data Security Inc. (USDS), was created to manage user data, software code, back-end systems, and content moderation, reporting to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Oracle would review data flows, digitally sign software code, approve updates, and oversee content moderation and recommendation.
2021: Israeli Defense Force (IDF) awards TikToker
In 2021, the IDF awarded a TikToker who was one of its military police officers for promoting the image of Israel.
2021: TikTok creates "election centres"
Since 2021, TikTok has created "election centers" on its platform leading up to European Parliament elections.
2021: Reported Increase in Similar Videos Shown to Users Engaging with Suicide, Self-Harm, or Eating Disorder Content
Since 2021, reports have surfaced indicating that users engaging with content related to suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders were increasingly shown similar videos. Efforts to bypass TikTok filters included coding and unconventional spelling. The company is working on breaking up "rabbit holes" of similar recommendations and prompts users to mental health resources for US searches of eating disorders.
February 2022: Texas Attorney General Initiates Investigation into TikTok
In February 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated an investigation into TikTok for alleged violations of children's privacy and facilitation of human trafficking. Paxton claimed that the Texas Department of Public Safety gathered content showing the attempted recruitment of teenagers to smuggle people or goods across the Mexico–United States border. The company claimed that no illegal activity of any kind is supported on the platform.
February 2022: Mental-health Professionals Concerned About Sexualized TikTok Videos
In February 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that mental-health professionals were concerned about the effects of posting sexualized TikTok videos on teen girls.
March 2022: Meta Platforms Pays for Anti-TikTok Campaign
In March 2022, The Washington Post reported that Facebook's owner Meta Platforms paid Targeted Victory to coordinate lobbying and media campaigns against TikTok.
March 2022: US State Attorneys General Launch Investigation into TikTok's Effect on Children's Mental Health
In March 2022, a coalition of US state attorneys general initiated an investigation into TikTok's impact on children's mental health.
March 2022: TikTok Restricts Content in Russia After New Censorship Laws
In March 2022, after Russia installed new war censorship laws, TikTok announced restrictions on Russian and non-Russian posts and livestreams. A technical glitch was exploited by pro-Russia posters. TikTok said that it had removed 204 accounts for swaying public opinion about the war and that its fact checkers had removed 41,191 videos for violating its misinformation policies.
March 2022: TikTok Settles Class Action Lawsuit for COPPA Violations
In March 2022, following a class action lawsuit for violations of COPPA, TikTok settled for US$1.1 million.
April 2022: Surgeons Gave Influencers Discounted or Free Cosmetic Surgeries
In April 2022, NBC News reported that surgeons were giving influencers on TikTok discounted or free cosmetic surgeries to advertise the procedures to their audiences.
June 2022: Report Reveals Chinese Employees' Access to TikTok's Overseas Data
In June 2022, BuzzFeed News reported that leaked audio recordings of internal TikTok meetings revealed employees in China had access to overseas data, including a "master admin" who could see "everything". Some recordings were made during consultations with Booz Allen Hamilton. Following these reports, US lawmakers called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate ByteDance. TikTok confirmed that employees in China could access US data and announced US user traffic would be routed through Oracle Cloud, with backup copies deleted from other servers.
June 2022: FCC Commissioner Calls for Removal of TikTok from App Stores
In June 2022, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr urged Google and Apple to remove TikTok from their app stores, citing concerns about sensitive data being accessed from Beijing and ByteDance's obligation to comply with Chinese government surveillance demands.
June 2022: Controversy over undisclosed FeetFinder ads
In June 2022, NBC News reported that some TikTok influencers paid by FeetFinder (a website selling foot fetish content) did not disclose their videos were ads.
June 2022: TikTok Introduces Screen Time Management Features
In June 2022, TikTok introduced features allowing users to set a maximum uninterrupted screen time. The app will restrict feed navigation after the time limit is reached, which can only be lifted by exiting and leaving the app unused for a specified time. Additionally, a dashboard provides statistics on app usage.
June 2022: Khaby Lame Surpassed Charli D'Amelio as Most-Followed on TikTok
On June 23, 2022, Khaby Lame surpassed Charli D'Amelio as the most-followed individual on the TikTok platform.
August 2022: Researcher Finds Keylogger Functionality in TikTok's In-App Browser
In August 2022, software engineer and security researcher Felix Krause found that in-app browsers from TikTok contained codes for keylogger functionality. TikTok stated that the code is disabled.
September 2022: NewsGuard Technologies Reports Misinformation on TikTok
In September 2022, NewsGuard Technologies reported that among the TikTok searches it had conducted and analyzed from the US, 19.4% surfaced misinformation, such as questionable or harmful content about COVID-19 vaccines, homemade remedies, the 2020 US elections, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Robb Elementary School shooting, and abortion.
October 2022: Report Claims ByteDance Planned to Surveil US Citizens
In October 2022, Forbes reported that a team at ByteDance planned to surveil certain US citizens for undisclosed reasons. TikTok said that the tracking method suggested by the report would not be feasible because precise GPS information is not collected by the platform.
October 2022: TikTok Plans E-commerce Expansion in the US
In October 2022, TikTok was reported to be planning an expansion into the e-commerce market in the US, following the launch of TikTok Shop in the United Kingdom.
November 2022: Australia Reports Global Shortage of Ozempic
In November 2022, Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) reported a global shortage of the diabetes medication Ozempic. The TGA attributed the increased demand to off-label prescription for weight loss.
November 2022: FBI Director Warns of Potential Chinese Influence Operations on TikTok
In November 2022, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray stated that the Chinese government could use TikTok for influence operations on its users.
November 2022: TikTok states global employees can access European user data
In a November 2022 update to its European privacy policy, TikTok stated that global corporate group employees from China and other countries could gain remote access to the user information of accounts from Europe based on "demonstrated need".
December 2022: ByteDance Confirms Employees Accessed Data of Journalists
In December 2022, ByteDance confirmed that the data of two journalists and their close contacts had been accessed by its employees from China and the United States. This was intended to uncover sources of leaks who might have met with the journalists from Forbes and the Financial Times. The data included IP addresses. ByteDance stated that it fired four employees in response.
December 2022: Cosmetic surgeries advertised by TikTok influencers
In December 2022, NBC News reported that some TikTok influencers were given free and discounted cosmetic surgeries to advertise them on the platform.
December 2022: Buccal Fat Removal Trended on TikTok
In December 2022, a cosmetic surgery procedure known as buccal fat removal went viral on TikTok, amassing over 180 million views with videos using related hashtags. Some users criticized the trend.
December 2022: TikTok Weight Loss Trend Causes Medicine Shortage
In December 2022, amid a shortage in the United States, it was reported that a surge in demand for Ozempic was caused by a weight loss trend on TikTok, with videos exceeding 360 million views. Wegovy, a drug approved for obesity, also gained popularity on TikTok after Elon Musk credited it for his weight loss.
December 2022: TikTok banned from US House of Representatives devices
On December 27, 2022, the Chief Administrative Officer of the United States House of Representatives banned TikTok from all devices managed by the House. On December 30, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, prohibiting the use of the app on devices owned by the federal government, with some exceptions.
2022: Analysis of top TikTok male creators
A 2022 analysis of TikTok's top 100 male creators reported that 67% were white, with 54% having near-perfect facial symmetry.
2022: TikTok Aware of Child Exploitation Since 2022
An investigation in 2025 found that TikTok has been aware of child exploitation since at least 2022 and has been profiting from sexual livestreams in Kenya involving minors.
2022: TikTok Released a Showbiz List
By 2022, TikTok released a Showbiz List, highlighting individuals who were having a larger impact on the film industry.
2022: Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" Went Viral
In 2022, Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" went viral among fans of Stranger Things on TikTok, topping the UK singles chart 37 years after its original release.
2022: TikTok bans fundraising for political accounts
In 2022, TikTok banned fundraising for political accounts.
2022: Turkey Investigates TikTok Over Money Laundering
In 2022, Turkey's Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) began investigating TikTok regarding millions of dollars in fund transfers. The transfers were linked to TikTok accounts suspected of money laundering or terrorism financing.
2022: TikTok Addresses Hate Speech in Malaysia
In 2022, after the election in Malaysia, TikTok was used by some users to engage in hate speech against race and religion especially mentioning the 13 May incident. TikTok responded by taking down videos with content that violated their community guidelines.
2022: Qatari Teenage Royal Became an Internet Celebrity
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a Qatari teenage royal became an Internet celebrity after his angry expressions were recorded in Qatar's opening match loss to Ecuador; he amassed more than 15 million followers in less than a week after creating a Douyin account.
2022: Biden administration briefs TikTokers on news items
Since 2022, the Biden administration had briefed TikTokers on news items such as the Russo-Ukrainian war and student debt relief in the United States.
January 2023: TikTok's "Heating" Tool Controversy
In January 2023, it was reported that TikTok had a "heating" tool to manually promote videos, accounting for 1-2% of daily views. While intended to diversify content and promote brands like FIFA World Cup and Taylor Swift, it was also abused by employees. To address Chinese influence concerns, TikTok is in talks with CFIUS to limit future heating to vetted personnel in the US, audited by third parties like Oracle.
February 2023: Many U.S. states ban TikTok on government devices
As of February 2023, at least 32 of the 50 states in the U.S. have announced or enacted bans on state government agencies, employees, and contractors using TikTok on government-issued devices.
February 2023: Impact of the Kia Challenge
As of February 2023, the Kia Challenge on TikTok had resulted in at least 14 crashes and eight deaths according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
February 2023: Politician Advocates Blocking TikTok in East Jerusalem
In February 2023, Otzma Yehudit politician Almog Cohen advocated for blocking TikTok for all of East Jerusalem, following reports that Palestinian militant group Lion's Den gained popularity through the platform and allegations of pro-Hamas content.
February 2023: European institutions ban TikTok on staff devices
In February 2023, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union banned TikTok from staff devices due to cybersecurity concerns.
February 2023: Canadian Privacy Commissioner Launches Investigation into TikTok's Data Collection Practices
In February 2023, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, along with counterparts in Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, initiated an investigation into TikTok's data collection practices.
March 2023: TikTok Advertising Growth in the US
According to data from app analytics group Sensor Tower, advertising on TikTok in the US grew by 11% in March 2023.
March 2023: TikTok Hosts Neo-Nazi Propaganda Despite Alerts
In March 2023, The Jewish Chronicle reported that TikTok still hosted videos that promoted the neo-Nazi propaganda film Europa: The Last Battle, despite having been alerted to the issue four months prior. TikTok said it removed and would continue to remove the content and associated accounts and has blocked the search term as well.
March 2023: TikTok introduces default screen time limits
In March 2023, TikTok announced default screen time limits for users under 18. Users under 13 require a parental passcode to extend their time.
March 2023: TikTok Announces Default Screen Time Limits for Under 18s
In March 2023, TikTok announced default screen time limits for users under the age of 18.
March 2023: TikTok Introduces STEM Feed
In March 2023, TikTok launched a dedicated feed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content. The platform collaborated with Common Sense Networks for safety and age appropriateness checks and with the Poynter Institute for information reliability.
March 2023: Former Employee Criticizes Project Texas
In March 2023, a former employee of TikTok stated that Project Texas did not go far enough and that a complete "re-engineering" would be needed. TikTok responded that Project Texas already is a re-engineering of the app and that the former employee left in 2022 before the project specifications were finalized. Other former employees shared that US user data were emailed to ByteDance workers in China to identify viewer interests. Another said TikTok had to employ better data collection practices than Meta or Google due to the scrutiny it received.
April 2023: ICO Imposes Fine on TikTok for Misusing Children's Data
In April 2023, the ICO imposed a £12.7 million fine on TikTok for misusing children's data.
May 2023: Report of TikTok tracking users viewing LGBT content
In May 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that former employees complained about TikTok tracking users who had viewed LGBT-related content. TikTok stated its algorithm tracks interests, not identity.
May 2023: Lawsuit Alleges Access of Hong Kong Users' Data by Chinese Communist Party Members
In May 2023, a former ByteDance employee filed a wrongful termination lawsuit alleging that Hong Kong users' device information and communications, particularly those of demonstrators in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, were accessed by Chinese Communist Party members in 2018. ByteDance denied the claims, stating the employee worked on a defunct project and that TikTok was pulled out of Hong Kong in 2020. The whistleblower also claimed his father in mainland China was detained for speaking to the media about censorship by TikTok.
June 2023: TikTok deletes accounts and videos associated with criminal gangs in cooperation with New Zealand and Australian police
In June 2023, The New Zealand Herald reported that TikTok, working with New Zealand and Australian police, deleted 340 accounts and 2,000 videos associated with criminal gangs.
June 2023: TikTok Confirms Storage of Financial Information of American Content Creators in China
In June 2023, TikTok confirmed that financial information, such as tax forms and Social Security numbers, of American content creators are stored in China. This applies to those signing contracts with and receiving payment transactions from ByteDance.
July 2023: TikTok Launched TikTok Music Streaming Service
In July 2023, TikTok launched TikTok Music, a new streaming service allowing users to listen to, download, and share songs.
July 2023: TikTok becomes primary news source for British teenagers
In July 2023, a report by UK regulator Ofcom indicated that TikTok had become the primary news source for 28% of British teenagers aged 12 to 15.
September 2023: Ireland DPC Fines TikTok for GDPR Violations
In September 2023, the DPC fined TikTok €345 million for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) concerning the mishandling of children's data.
September 2023: Former ByteDance Employees File Complaint Against TikTok with EEOC
In September 2023, two former ByteDance employees filed a formal complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The employees asked the EEOC to investigate TikTok's practice of retaliating against workers who complain about discrimination.
November 2023: Osama bin Laden's Letter Goes Viral on TikTok
In November 2023, Osama bin Laden's 2002 "Letter to the American people" resurfaced and gained virality on TikTok and other social media platforms. The Guardian removed the letter from its website after 20 years and TikTok began taking down videos.
November 2023: Singaporean Minister Seeks Information on TikTok Users Spreading Defamatory Information
In November 2023, Singaporean Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam applied for court orders requiring TikTok to provide information on the identity of three users that he accuses of spreading false and defamatory information about him.
December 2023: Fake TikTok accounts promoting Russian propaganda discovered
In December 2023, BBC News reported the discovery of nearly 800 fake TikTok accounts spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation. TikTok's internal investigation uncovered over 12,000 fake accounts using multiple languages.
December 2023: TikTok Invests in GoTo's Tokopedia
In December 2023, TikTok invested $1.5 billion in GoTo's Indonesian e-commerce business, Tokopedia.
December 2023: NCRI Study Finds Possible Chinese Government Influence on TikTok Content
In December 2023, a study by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) found a "strong possibility that content on TikTok is either amplified or suppressed based on its alignment with the interests of the Chinese government." TikTok restricted the number of hashtags that can be searched under its Creative Center, saying it was 'misused to draw inaccurate conclusions'.
December 2023: Australian Commissioner Announces Inquiry into TikTok's Data Harvesting
In December 2023, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner announced an inquiry into TikTok's data harvesting practices concerning Australian citizens. The inquiry was prompted by allegations that TikTok contravened Australian privacy law.
December 2023: US House Committee Inquires FBI About TikTok Surveillance Case
In December 2023, the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party inquired the FBI about the status of the investigation into ByteDance's surveillance of journalists on TikTok.
2023: Kylie Minogue's "Padam Padam" Entered Radio 1 Playlist
In 2023, Kylie Minogue's "Padam Padam" entered the Radio 1 playlist after being shared by Gen Z on TikTok, although many youth radio stations refused to play the song.
2023: Georgia Institute of Technology concludes TikTok is not exporting censorship
In 2023, a paper by the Internet Governance Project at Georgia Institute of Technology concluded that TikTok is 'not exporting censorship, either directly by blocking material, or indirectly via its recommendation algorithm.'
2023: SAG-AFTRA strike impacts TikTok influencers
In 2023, during the SAG-AFTRA strike, influencers were warned they would be denied union entry if they partnered with struck studios, leading to a decrease in new content creation. Creators who continued their usual content faced criticism.
2023: TikTok sponsorship of Wrexham A.F.C. ends
In 2023, the partnership between TikTok and Wrexham A.F.C. ended when Wrexham was promoted to the EFL League Two.
February 2024: Biden campaign joins TikTok
In February 2024, Joe Biden's re-election campaign announced it had opened a TikTok account, drawing criticism over security concerns.
February 2024: European Commission Investigates TikTok for Potential DSA Violations
In February 2024, the European Commission launched an investigation into TikTok for potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), specifically focusing on content aimed at children and advertising transparency.
March 2024: TikTok Loses Billions Annually
In March 2024, The Information reported that it is an open secret among investors that TikTok loses billions of dollars annually.
March 2024: TikTok Growth Stagnates in US
In March 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that TikTok's growth in the US had stagnated.
March 2024: Universal Music Publishing Group Removed Its Catalogue from TikTok
In March 2024, Universal Music Publishing Group removed its catalogue of 4 million compositions from TikTok.
March 2024: FTC Continues Investigation into TikTok
In March 2024, it was reported that the FTC continues to investigate TikTok.
March 2024: Italian Competition Authority fines TikTok
In March 2024, the Italian Competition Authority fined TikTok €10 million for inadequately protecting underage users from harmful content like the "French scar" challenge.
March 2024: United States House of Representatives passes bill to ban TikTok unless divested from ByteDance
On March 13, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 7521, which would ban TikTok entirely unless it was divested from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
April 2024: Taylor Swift's Music Returned to TikTok
In April 2024, Taylor Swift's music returned to the TikTok platform.
April 2024: Former Employee Accused of Improbable Claims About TikTok
In April 2024, it was discovered that former employee Zen Goziker—allegedly the source of various leaks about TikTok to The Washington Post, Forbes, and BuzzFeed News—had made improbable claims. He has also spoken with law enforcement agencies and lawmakers hostile to TikTok, accusing his former employer as well as government officials for getting him fired.
April 2024: European Commission Opens Second Investigation into TikTok
In April 2024, the European Commission opened a second investigation into TikTok to assess whether it broke EU law.
April 2024: House includes revised TikTok ban bill in foreign aid package, passed by Senate and signed into law
In April 2024, the House of Representatives included a revised version of the TikTok ban bill in a foreign aid package, which was passed by the Senate on April 23, 2024, and signed into law by President Joe Biden the following day.
May 2024: Nebraska Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against TikTok
In May 2024, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that its algorithm harms minors' mental health by cultivating compulsive behavior.
July 2024: Neo-Nazi Network on TikTok Receives Millions of Views
In July 2024, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue reported that an organized neo-Nazi TikTok network promoting neo-Nazi propaganda, including Europa: The Last Battle, was receiving millions of views and was having its content promoted by TikTok's algorithm.
August 2024: FTC and US Department of Justice File Joint Lawsuit Against TikTok
In August 2024, the FTC and US Department of Justice filed a joint lawsuit alleging violations of the 2019 consent decree against TikTok.
August 2024: NCRI Releases Report on TikTok Content Related to China
In August 2024, the NCRI released a report analyzing user journey data across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, finding that TikTok returned a higher percentage of positive, neutral, or irrelevant content related to human rights in China when searching for keywords like Uyghur, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Tiananmen. The report also indicated that people who use TikTok more than three hours daily are significantly more positive about China's human rights record.
September 2024: Clips of Adolf Hitler's Speeches Attract High Engagement on TikTok
In September 2024, Sky News reported that clips of Adolf Hitler's speeches with added music were attracting high levels of engagement on TikTok. Though removed after the report, audio mixing remains an effective way to evade content moderation.
September 2024: TikTok removes Russian state media accounts
In September 2024, TikTok removed the accounts of Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik from its platform.
October 2024: US Senators Request Documents Related to Child Safety from TikTok
In October 2024, US senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn requested that TikTok provide "all documents and information" related to child safety disclosures that were uncovered by NPR and Kentucky Public Radio.
October 2024: European Commission Requests More Information from TikTok
In October 2024, the European Commission requested additional information from TikTok regarding its algorithm and associated risks concerning elections, mental health, and the protection of minors.
November 2024: TikTok Music Was Discontinued
In November 2024, TikTok Music was discontinued.
November 2024: Teen Stabbing Incident Leads to TikTok Shutdown Announcement
In November 2024, a deadly stabbing incident occurred where a teenager fatally stabbed another teen after a dispute that began on the platform, leading to the Albanian government announcing a TikTok shutdown in December.
November 2024: Canada Orders TikTok to Shut Down Offices
On 6 November 2024, Canada ordered TikTok to shut down its offices and subsidiary company (TikTok Technology Canada, Inc.) in the country due to national security concerns under the Investment Canada Act. However, access to the app was not banned.
December 2024: EU Investigates TikTok over Russian Interference Accusations
In December 2024, the European Commission announced an investigation into TikTok regarding accusations of Russian interference in the 2024 Romanian presidential election.
December 2024: Albanian Government Announces TikTok Shutdown
On 21 December 2024, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the Albanian government will shut down TikTok in 2025 for at least a year, following a deadly incident in November 2024 in which a teenager fatally stabbed another teen after a dispute that began on the platform.
December 2024: Venezuela's Supreme Court fines TikTok over viral challenges
On 30 December 2024, Venezuela's Supreme Court fined TikTok $10 million, holding them responsible for failing to prevent dangerous viral challenges that led to children's deaths.
2024: US law requires ByteDance to divest TikTok
Following a 2024 US law requiring ByteDance to divest the platform over national security concerns, TikTok will henceforth operate in the United States under a joint investment entity in which the majority ownership will be American.
2024: TikTok Partners with Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Team GB
In 2024, TikTok partnered with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to support small Latino businesses and signed a sponsorship deal with Team GB to help UK athletes connect with new audiences for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
2024: US Intelligence Reports TikTok Accounts Targeted Candidates During 2022 Elections
In 2024, an unclassified threat assessment by the Director of National Intelligence indicated that "TikTok accounts run by a [Chinese] propaganda arm reportedly targeted candidates" during the 2022 United States elections.
2024: Creator Rewards Program replaces Creator Fund
In 2024, the Creator Fund was replaced with the Creator Rewards Program. Creators with videos reaching the top 4% and over 100,000 followers become eligible for 50% of ad revenue.
2024: Viral Memes and Parodies of North Korean Propaganda on Douyin
In 2024, viral memes and parodies of North Korea’s tightly choreographed state propaganda such as "general’s dance" or "You came from Dandong" amassed millions of views on Douyin. These memes also spread offline in Dandong.
January 2025: Talks of Potential Sale of TikTok's US Operations
In January 2025, Chinese officials began preliminary talks about potentially selling TikTok's US operations to Elon Musk due to national security concerns, with Perplexity AI submitting a merger bid.
January 2025: TikTok becomes unavailable in the US before being restored after Trump intervention
On January 18, 2025, hours before the bill went into effect, TikTok became unavailable across the country. The next day, TikTok restored access to their service after re-elected US President Donald Trump assured TikTok he would not enforce the law.
March 2025: ICO Opens Another Investigation into TikTok's Use of Children's Data
In March 2025, the ICO opened another investigation into TikTok concerning its use of children's personal information to recommend content to them.
March 2025: Albania Officially Shuts Down TikTok
On 7 March 2025, the shutdown of TikTok in Albania was officially enacted after the Albanian Cabinet cited concerns over the app's role in promoting violence and bullying among children.
March 2025: Scientific Understanding of TikTok's Effects on Mental Health "Remains Elusive"
As of March 2025, a strong scientific understanding of TikTok's effects on user's mental health "remains elusive".
April 2025: President Trump delays enforcement of the TikTok ban again
In April 2025, President Trump signed another executive order further delaying the enforcement of the TikTok ban by 75 days.
April 2025: Ireland DPC Fines TikTok Over Illegal Data Transfers to China
In April 2025, the Ireland DPC fined TikTok over €500 million for illegally sending European user data to China.
April 2025: Shutdown Announced for TikTok Notes
On 1 April 2025, it was announced that Notes would be shut down on 8 May.
May 2025: European Commission Finds TikTok Violated Digital Advertising Rules
In May 2025, the European Commission determined that TikTok had violated digital advertising rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
May 2025: TikTok Notes Goes Defunct
On 8 May 2025, TikTok Notes went defunct.
June 2025: President Trump again delays enforcement of the TikTok ban with a 90-day extension
In June 2025, President Trump signed another executive order further delaying the enforcement of the TikTok ban by 90 days.
July 2025: AI-Generated Racist and Antisemitic Videos Shared on TikTok
In July 2025, Media Matters reported that Google's Veo 3 text-to-video model for AI-generated content is being used to generate large numbers of dehumanizing and violent videos with racist and antisemitic tropes which are being shared on TikTok.
July 2025: TikTok Hires Erica Mindel as Public Policy Manager of Hate Speech
In July 2025, TikTok hired Erica Mindel, a former Israel Defense Forces instructor and contractor for the US State Department's Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, as its Public Policy Manager of Hate Speech.
July 2025: Ireland DPC Opens New Investigation into TikTok Data Transfers
In July 2025, the DPC opened a new investigation into TikTok for unauthorized transfers of user data to China.
September 2025: TikTok Removes Fake Accounts and Videos Ahead of Moldovan Election
In September 2025, before the Moldovan parliamentary election, TikTok removed over 134,000 fake accounts, almost 2 million fake followers, 1,173 accounts impersonating Moldovan officials and over 9,300 videos that violated rules on civic integrity, disinformation and AI content generation, and dismantled five coordinated networks with at least 7,593 accounts that 'promoted pro-Russian politicians and attempted to discredit the current government'.
September 2025: US and China Reach Framework for TikTok Deal
On 14 September 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported that the US and China reached a "framework of a deal" for the US operations of TikTok to be sold to a consortium of investors in the US including Larry Ellison of Oracle.
November 2025: French Prosecutors Open Probe into TikTok's Algorithms
In November 2025, French prosecutors initiated an investigation into TikTok, expressing concerns that its algorithms could potentially lead vulnerable young people to suicide.
December 2025: TikTok Launched Digital Gift Cards
In December 2025, TikTok launched digital gift cards.
2025: TikTok begins rolling out messaging features
Around 2025, TikTok started rolling out photo, video, and voice messaging capabilities.
2025: Canadian Investigation Finds TikTok Violated Privacy Laws
In 2025, a Canadian investigation concluded that TikTok had collected sensitive personal data from children, violating federal privacy laws.
2025: TikTok Investigation Reveals Profiting From Sexual Livestreams Involving Minors in Kenya
In 2025, an investigation uncovered that TikTok was profiting from sexual livestreams in Kenya involving minors. Teenagers as young as 15 were using the platform to solicit explicit content, with TikTok taking 70% of livestream earnings.
2025: US adults getting news from TikTok
In 2025, the share of US adults who regularly get news from TikTok hit 5%.
January 2026: Messaging features available in select regions
As of January 2026, TikTok's photo, video, and voice messaging features were available in certain regions, including the United States and Canada.
January 2026: Completion of TikTok US Operations Sale
By 22 January 2026, the deal was completed for the US operations of TikTok to be sold to a consortium of investors—including Oracle, Silver Lake, MGX, and others including the personal investment entity for Michael Dell.
January 2026: Formation of TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC
On 22 January 2026, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC was formed to manage TikTok and other ByteDance properties in the United States, with Oracle Corporation, MGX Fund Management Limited, Silver Lake, ByteDance, Michael Dell, and Vastmere Strategic Investments holding stakes in the company.
January 2026: TikTok Announces Joint Venture with Defined Safeguards for US Users
On January 22, 2026, US President Donald Trump and TikTok announced that the company had joined a joint venture, which will run as an independent entity while operating under defined safeguards that protect national security for US users. Adam Presser will serve as CEO, while Shou Chew will be a director of the new venture.
January 2026: TikTok announces partnership with FIFA World Cup
On January 8, 2026, TikTok announced a new partnership with the FIFA World Cup.
February 2026: TikTok Launched Local Feed
In February 2026, TikTok launched Local Feed, a feature intended to help users connect with their community and discover local events and updates.
March 2026: British Regulators Demand Improved Child Safety Measures on TikTok
In March 2026, media and privacy regulators in Britain demanded TikTok, along with other platforms, to enhance efforts to protect children on their services. They warned that companies were failing to enforce minimum age rules. Ofcom instructed TikTok to demonstrate by April 30 how they would tighten age checks and restrict strangers from contacting children, as part of Britain's Online Safety Act.
March 2026: Canada completes national security review and allows TikTok operations
In March 2026, the Government of Canada concluded its national security review of TikTok and permitted the company to operate within the country, subject to new legally binding security commitments.
April 2026: TikTok partners with ACRCloud to enhance SoundOn platform with audio recognition
In April 2026, TikTok partnered with ACRCloud to enhance its SoundOn platform with audio recognition technology to identify unauthorized or altered uses of copyrighted music.
2026: TikTok Divestiture and Alleged Censorship
Following its 2026 divestiture in the U.S., TikTok faced allegations of censoring criticism of Donald Trump and discussions of Jeffrey Epstein.
2026: TikTok Criticized for Allegedly Censoring Criticism of Trump and Epstein
In 2026, TikTok was criticized for allegedly censoring criticism of Donald Trump and references to Jeffrey Epstein. Governor Gavin Newsom said the Government of California was launching an investigation of TikTok for violating California law by censoring Trump-critical content. TikTok blamed the censorship on alleged power outages.
2026: Reports of Users Unable to Post Videos About ICE
In 2026, it was reported by users that they were unable to make and post videos about ICE. TikTok said this was caused by a power outage at a US data center.
2026: US and China approve deal transferring operational control of TikTok's US business
In early 2026, the United States and China approved a deal transferring operational control of TikTok's US business to a joint venture led by Oracle and Silver Lake.
2026: TikTok Begins Cracking Down on Palestinian Activists and Journalists
Starting in 2026, TikTok began cracking down on the accounts of Palestinian activists and journalists, including Bisan Owda. Media outlets such as Al Jazeera verified that TikTok's new algorithm hid content depending on the user's region, with the app hiding Palestinian content from users in the Middle East.
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