History of TikTok in Timeline
TikTok, or Douyin in China, is a short-form video-hosting service owned by ByteDance. Users can upload videos ranging from three seconds to 60 minutes. The platform is accessible via a mobile app or website, offering a space for creative expression and entertainment through short-form video content.
2002: Osama bin Laden publishes Letter to the American People
In 2002, Osama bin Laden published a letter to the American people denouncing the U.S. and its support for Israel. In November 2023, the letter went viral on TikTok.
2010: TikTok App of the Decade
Media outlets cited TikTok as the 7th-most-downloaded mobile app of the decade from 2010 to 2019
August 2014: Musical.ly Initial Release
In August 2014, Musical.ly, the social media video platform, was initially released, setting the stage for its later acquisition by ByteDance.
September 2016: Douyin Launched
In September 2016, ByteDance launched Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, originally named A.me.
December 2016: Douyin Rebrands
In December 2016, A.me, the Chinese version of TikTok, rebranded to Douyin (抖音).
2016: Fitz and the Tantrums Gain Popularity in South Korea
In 2016, Fitz and the Tantrums developed a large following in South Korea due to the popularity of their song "HandClap" on TikTok, despite never having toured in Asia.
September 2017: TikTok Launched Internationally
In September 2017, ByteDance created TikTok as an overseas version of Douyin and launched it in the international market.
November 2017: ByteDance Acquires Musical.ly
On November 9, 2017, ByteDance purchased Musical.ly for nearly $1 billion, marking a significant expansion in the social media video platform market.
2017: CFIUS Investigates TikTok Merger
Since 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been investigating TikTok's 2017 merger with Musical.ly due to national security concerns.
January 2018: TikTok Ranks First in App Store Downloads
On January 23, 2018, the TikTok app ranked first among free application downloads on app stores in Thailand and other countries.
April 2018: Addiction-Reduction Feature Added to Douyin
In April 2018, Douyin added an addiction-reduction feature, encouraging users to take a break every 90 minutes.
August 2018: TikTok Merges with Musical.ly
On August 2, 2018, TikTok merged with Musical.ly, consolidating accounts and data into one app under the TikTok name.
August 2018: Musical.ly Merges With TikTok
On August 2, 2018, musical.ly merged with TikTok, leading to the rise of new internet celebrities. Many stars got their start on musical.ly.
October 2018: TikTok Becomes Most Downloaded App in the U.S.
Following the merger with Musical.ly in August, downloads increased and TikTok became the most downloaded app in the U.S. in October 2018.
2018: Privacy Concerns on TikTok
At the time of reporting in 2018, TikTok had only two privacy settings, either private or completely public, without any middle ground, raising concerns about potential misuse by sexual predators.
2018: Bullying and Trolling on TikTok
In 2018, Vox noted that bullying and trolls were relatively rare on TikTok, compared to other platforms.
2018: Celebrities Begin Using TikTok
In 2018, celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Tony Hawk began using the app in the United States, contributing to its growing popularity.
January 2019: TikTok Allows Merchandise Sale Links
In January 2019, TikTok enabled creators to embed merchandise sale links into their videos, enhancing e-commerce opportunities on the platform.
February 2019: TikTok and Douyin Hit One Billion Downloads Globally
In February 2019, TikTok, together with Douyin, hit one billion downloads globally, excluding Android installs in China.
February 2019: UK ICO Launches Investigation of TikTok
In February 2019, the United Kingdom's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) began investigating TikTok after the FTC fine, focusing on private data collection and child safety.
February 2019: FTC Fines ByteDance for COPPA Violations
On February 27, 2019, the FTC fined ByteDance $5.7 million for collecting data from minors under 13, violating COPPA.
August 2019: Popular Celebrities on Douyin
As of August 2019, popular celebrities on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, included Dilraba Dilmurat, Angelababy, Luo Zhixiang, Ouyang Nana, and Pan Changjiang.
September 2019: TikTok Partners with NFL
On September 3, 2019, TikTok and the U.S. National Football League (NFL) announced a multi-year partnership, enhancing marketing opportunities and fan engagement.
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 to Suppressing Videos by Disabled and LGBTQ+ Users
In December 2019, TikTok admitted to suppressing videos by disabled users and LGBTQ+ users to limit cyberbullying, following a report by netzpolitik.org.
2019: TikTok Geographical Use
In 2019, 43% of TikTok's new users were from India before the social platform was banned in the country.
2019: "Old Town Road" Becomes a Hit
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 U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
2019: TikTok Censorship Allegations
In 2019, reports surfaced that TikTok censored videos on topics deemed unfavorable by the Chinese government. TikTok removed a video about human rights abuses in Xinjiang internment camps but restored it after 50 minutes, attributing the action to a mistake.
January 2020: Vulnerability Discovered and Patched
In January 2020, Check Point Research found a vulnerability allowing hackers to spoof official SMS messages to access user accounts, which TikTok later patched.
January 2020: Misinformation Related to COVID-19 on TikTok
In January 2020, Media Matters for America reported that TikTok hosted misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic despite a recent policy against misinformation.
January 2020: US Army and Navy Ban TikTok
In January 2020, the United States Army and Navy banned TikTok on government devices, with the Defense Department citing it as a security risk.
February 2020: TikTok Announces Family Safety Mode
In February 2020, TikTok announced a "family safety mode" for parents to be able to control their children's presence on the app.
March 2020: Charli D'Amelio Surpasses Loren Gray as Most-Followed Individual on TikTok
On March 25, 2020, Charli D'Amelio surpassed Loren Gray to become the most-followed individual on TikTok, with 41.3 million followers. D'Amelio was the first to ever reach 50, 60, and 70 million followers.
April 2020: TikTok Surpasses Two Billion Downloads
In April 2020, TikTok achieved a significant milestone by surpassing two billion mobile downloads worldwide, marking its growing global popularity.
April 2020: Indian Government Asks TikTok to Remove 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 Regarding COPPA Violations
In May 2020, an advocacy group filed a complaint with the FTC alleging that TikTok had violated the terms of the February 2019 consent decree regarding COPPA.
June 2020: Conspiracy Theories on TikTok
By June 2020, various conspiracy theories, such as Pizzagate and QAnon, became popular on TikTok, reaching millions of views. The platform was also used to spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2020: TikTok Users and K-Pop Fans Impact Trump Rally Turnout
In June 2020, TikTok users and K-pop fans organized to register potentially hundreds of thousands of tickets for President Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, contributing to low attendance at the event.
July 2020: TikTok Reaches 800 Million Monthly Active Users
In July 2020, TikTok reported close to 800 million monthly active users worldwide, showcasing rapid growth within four years.
August 2020: "Ode to Remy" Song Sparks Ratatouille the Musical Project
In August 2020, Emily Jacobssen's song "Ode to Remy," praising the protagonist from Ratatouille, gained popularity after Daniel Mertzlufft composed a backing track, leading to a crowdsourced project called Ratatouille the Musical.
August 2020: Report of TikTok Tracking Android User Data
In August 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that TikTok tracked Android user data, including MAC addresses and IMEIs, violating Google's policies.
August 2020: Trump Orders Ban on TikTok Transactions
On 6 August 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order which would ban TikTok transactions in 45 days if it was not sold by ByteDance. On 14 August 2020, Trump issued another order giving ByteDance 90 days to sell or spin off its U.S. TikTok business citing national security concerns.
August 2020: Kevin A. Mayer Resigns
On August 27, 2020, Kevin A. Mayer resigned from his position, resulting in Vanessa Pappas being named interim CEO.
September 2020: TikTok Expands Parental Controls
In September 2020, TikTok expanded its parental controls feature called "Family Pairing" and provided educational resources for parents, partnering with Internet Matters.
September 2020: Removal of Suicide Video
In September 2020, TikTok worked to remove a suicide video that was circulating within the recommended clips of TikTok's For You section.
September 2020: ByteDance and Oracle Confirm Deal
In September 2020, a deal was confirmed between ByteDance and Oracle in which the latter will serve as a partner to provide cloud hosting.
October 2020: Creation of TikTok for Biden Organization
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 Gen-Z for Change.
November 2020: TikTok Signs Licensing Deal with Sony Music
In November 2020, TikTok signed a licensing deal with Sony Music, enhancing its music library and content offerings.
December 2020: Warner Music Group Signs Licensing Deal with TikTok
In December 2020, Warner Music Group signed a licensing deal with TikTok, further expanding its music partnerships.
2020: CIA Analysts Assess TikTok Security Risks
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 the app, there was no evidence it had done so.
2020: Charli D'Amelio Makes 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-Enters Billboard Hot 100
In 2020, Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" was used in a skating video and a recreation by Mick Fleetwood on TikTok. As a result, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 after 43 years and topped Apple Music.
2020: Recognition of TikTok's Advanced Algorithm
In 2020, The New York Times recognized TikTok's algorithm as one of the most advanced for shaping user experiences and social interactions.
2020: TikTok Food Trends Emerge During COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, TikTok food trends gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people were inclined to eat at home and sought entertainment on social media. Users began sharing diets, recipes, and step-by-step videos of easy and popular recipes, leading to the term "FoodTok".
2020: TikTok Election Center
In 2020, TikTok removed over 340,000 videos in the U.S. about election misinformation and 50,000 videos of COVID-19 misinformation were removed.
2020: TikTok Downplays China Connection
Since 2020, TikTok has downplayed its connection to China, stating that its US-based CEO is responsible for important decisions.
2020: CFIUS Investigates TikTok Merger
Since 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has been investigating TikTok's 2017 merger with Musical.ly due to national security concerns.
January 2021: #NoseJobCheck Trend Goes Viral
By January 2021, the #NoseJobCheck trend was going viral on TikTok, with the hashtag #nosejob accumulating 1.6 billion views, #nosejobcheck accumulating 1 billion views, and the audio used in the trend being used in 120,000 videos.
January 2021: UAE Government and TikTok Winter Campaign
In January 2021, the United Arab Emirates Government Media Office held a winter campaign with TikTok.
January 2021: Italian Data Protection Authority Demands User Suspension
On 22 January 2021, the Italian Data Protection Authority demanded that TikTok temporarily suspend Italian users whose age could not be established after the death of a 10-year-old girl involved in an Internet challenge.
January 2021: Ratatouille the Musical Premieres Virtually
On January 1, 2021, a full one-hour virtual presentation of Ratatouille the Musical premiered on TodayTix, starring Titus Burgess, Wayne Brady, Adam Lambert, Kevin Chamberlin, and others.
February 2021: Stats Published on Most Popular Plastic Surgeons on TikTok
An article published in December 2021 cited stats from February 2021 regarding the popularity of plastic surgeons on TikTok, with five different plastic surgeons having surpassed 1 million followers.
April 2021: Abu Dhabi Tourism Partnership with TikTok
In April 2021, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism partnered with TikTok to promote tourism for the city.
May 2021: Shou Zi Chew Appointed as CEO
In May 2021, TikTok appointed Shou Zi Chew as their new CEO, succeeding interim CEO Vanessa Pappas.
June 2021: TikTok Apology for Graphic Beheading Video
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 was blacklisted by TikTok.
June 2021: Biden Revokes Trump's TikTok Ban
In June 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order revoking the Trump administration's ban on TikTok.
September 2021: TikTok Reaches 1 Billion Users
In September 2021, TikTok announced that it had reached 1 billion users, marking a significant milestone in its growth.
September 2021: Ireland DPC Launches Investigations into TikTok
In September 2021, the Ireland Data Protection Commission (DPC) initiated investigations into TikTok regarding the protection of minors' data and data transfers to China.
October 2021: TikTok Launches Tip Feature
In October 2021, TikTok launched a test feature that allows users to directly tip certain creators, enhancing monetization opportunities.
December 2021: Article Published on Plastic Surgeons' Popularity on TikTok
In December 2021, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, published an article about the popularity of plastic surgeons on TikTok, noting that they were early adopters of social media in the medical field.
December 2021: TikTok Beta-Tests Live Studio
In December 2021, TikTok started beta-testing Live Studio, a streaming software for broadcasting applications and games, but faced code usage concerns.
2021: Snapchat Pays Out to Creators
In 2021, Snapchat paid out $250 million to its creators, indicating the growing competition for content creators among social media platforms.
2021: Superiority of TikTok's Understanding of User Preferences
In 2021, The Wall Street Journal highlighted TikTok's superiority over other social media platforms in understanding users' preferences and emotions.
2021: TikTok Introduces Bedtime Notifications for Teenagers
In 2021, TikTok announced they will introduce a feature to prevent teenagers from receiving notifications past their bedtime.
2021: Project Texas Initiative
In 2021, TikTok began Project Texas to silo privileged user data within the United States under U.S. government oversight, addressing concerns about unauthorized access, state influence, and software security.
2021: TikTok Ranked Most Popular Website
In 2021, TikTok was ranked by Cloudflare as the most popular website, surpassing Google, which signifies its dominance and widespread usage.
2021: Concerns over "Rabbit Holes" of Harmful Content
Since 2021, it has been reported that accounts engaging with content related to suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders were shown more similar videos.
February 2022: Texas Attorney General Investigates TikTok
In February 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated an investigation into TikTok for alleged children's privacy violations and facilitation of human trafficking.
February 2022: Concerns Raised About Sexualized TikTok Videos and Teen Girls
In February 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that mental-health professionals were concerned about the effects of sexualized TikTok videos on teen girls.
March 2022: Meta Paid Firm to Coordinate 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: TikTok Settles Class Action Lawsuit for COPPA Violations
In March 2022, TikTok settled a class action lawsuit for $1.1 million due to violations of COPPA.
March 2022: Investigation Launched into TikTok's Effect on Children's Mental Health
In March 2022, a coalition of U.S. state attorneys general launched an investigation into TikTok's effect on children's mental health.
March 2022: TikTok Restrictions in Russia
In March 2022, after new Russian war censorship laws were installed, TikTok announced restrictions on Russian and non-Russian posts and livestreams. TikTok removed 204 accounts for swaying public opinion and over 41,000 videos for violating misinformation policies.
April 2022: Surgeons Offer Discounted Surgeries to Influencers
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. TikTok has banned the advertising of cosmetic surgeries on the platform.
May 2022: TikTok Announces Ad Revenue-Sharing Program: TikTok Pulse
In May 2022, TikTok announced TikTok Pulse, an ad revenue-sharing program, available to creators with over 100,000 followers, covering the "top 4% of all videos on TikTok". Eligible creators receive 50% of the revenue from ads displayed with their videos.
June 2022: TikTok Introduces Screen Time Allowance Feature
In June 2022, TikTok introduced the ability to set a maximum uninterrupted screen time allowance, blocking the feed after the time is up.
June 2022: Khaby Lame Surpasses Charli D'Amelio as Most-Followed Individual
On June 23, 2022, Khaby Lame surpassed Charli D'Amelio as the most-followed individual on TikTok.
August 2022: Keylogger Functionality Found in TikTok's In-App Browser
In August 2022, Felix Krause found code for keylogger functionality in TikTok's in-app browser, but TikTok stated the code was disabled.
September 2022: NewsGuard Report on Misinformation on TikTok
In September 2022, NewsGuard Technologies reported that 19.4% of TikTok searches in the U.S. surfaced misinformation about topics like COVID-19 vaccines and the 2020 U.S. elections.
October 2022: Report of ByteDance Planning to Surveil U.S. Citizens
In October 2022, Forbes reported that ByteDance planned to surveil certain U.S. citizens, but TikTok denied collecting precise GPS information.
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: Ozempic Shortage Reported
In November 2022, Australia's TGA reported a global shortage of the diabetes medication Ozempic, attributed to off-label prescriptions for weight loss.
December 2022: ByteDance Confirms Accessing Journalists' Data
In December 2022, ByteDance confirmed that employees accessed data of journalists and their contacts to uncover sources of leaks, leading to the firing of four employees.
December 2022: Buccal Fat Removal Trend Goes Viral
In December 2022, a cosmetic surgery procedure known as buccal fat removal was going viral on TikTok. Videos using hashtags related to buccal fat removal had collectively amassed over 180 million views.
December 2022: TikTok Banned on US House Devices
In December 2022, the Chief Administrative Officer of the United States House of Representatives banned TikTok from all devices managed by the House of Representatives and 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.
December 2022: Ozempic Shortage Linked to TikTok Weight Loss Trend
In December 2022, the United States experienced a shortage of Ozempic as well and it was reported that increased demand was linked to a weight loss trend on TikTok.
2022: Former Employee Leaves TikTok
A former TikTok employee, who later criticized Project Texas, left the company in 2022 before the project specifications were finalized.
2022: Hate Speech on TikTok after Malaysian Election
After the 2022 election in Malaysia, TikTok was used by some users to engage in hate speech, especially mentioning the 13 May incident. TikTok responded by removing videos that violated their community guidelines.
2022: TikTok User Statistics
As of the first quarter of 2022, there were over 100 million monthly active users in the United States and 23 million in the UK. The average user daily was spending 1 hour and 25 minutes on the app and opening TikTok 17 times.
2022: TikTok Releases 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" Goes Viral
In 2022, Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" went viral on TikTok among fans of Stranger Things, topping the UK singles chart 37 years after its original release.
2022: Turkey Investigates TikTok for Money Laundering
In 2022, Turkey's Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) started a probe into TikTok over millions of dollars in fund transfers suspected of money laundering or terrorism financing.
2022: Qatari Royal Becomes Internet Celebrity on Douyin
In 2022, during the 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: TikTok Aware of Child Exploitation
Since at least 2022, TikTok has been aware of child exploitation on its platform.
January 2023: TikTok's "Heating" Tool for Video Promotion
In January 2023, it was reported that TikTok had a "heating" tool to manually promote certain videos, accounting for 1–2% of daily views. This practice, meant to diversify content, has faced scrutiny and concerns over potential abuse and Chinese influence. It is being negotiated with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) that future heating could only be performed by vetted security personnel in the U.S. and the process would be audited by third-parties such as Oracle.
February 2023: States Ban TikTok on Government Devices
As of February 2023, at least 32 states have announced or enacted bans on state government agencies, employees, and contractors using TikTok on government-issued devices.
February 2023: NHTSA Reports on Kia Challenge Fatalities
As of February 2023, the "Kia Challenge" TikTok trend, involving the theft of Kia and Hyundai cars, had resulted in at least 14 crashes and eight deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
February 2023: Politician calls for TikTok block in East Jerusalem
In February 2023, Otzma Yehudit politician Almog Cohen advocated blocking TikTok for all of East Jerusalem, citing concerns over content.
February 2023: European Union Bans TikTok on Staff Devices
In February 2023, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union banned TikTok on staff devices due to cybersecurity concerns.
February 2023: Canadian Privacy Commissioners Investigate TikTok
In February 2023, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and counterparts in Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec launched an investigation into TikTok's data collection practices.
March 2023: Report of Neo-Nazi Propaganda on TikTok
In March 2023, The Jewish Chronicle reported that TikTok still hosted videos that promoted the neo-Nazi propaganda film Europa: The Last Battle, despite being alerted four months prior. TikTok removed and blocked the content.
March 2023: TikTok Announces Default Screen Time Limits for Minors
In March 2023, TikTok announced default screen time limits for users under the age of 18.
March 2023: TikTok Introduces Dedicated STEM Feed
In March 2023, TikTok introduced a dedicated feed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content. It partners with Common Sense Networks for safety checks and the Poynter Institute for reliability of information.
March 2023: Project Texas Criticisms
In March 2023, a former TikTok employee criticized Project Texas, suggesting a complete "re-engineering" was needed, while TikTok defended the project as already being a re-engineering effort.
April 2023: ICO Fines TikTok for Misusing Children's Data
In April 2023, the ICO imposed a £12.7 million fine on TikTok for misusing children's data.
June 2023: TikTok Deletes Gang-Related Accounts in Cooperation with 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.
July 2023: TikTok as Primary News Source for British Teenagers
In July 2023, TikTok became the primary news source for British teenagers on social media, with 28% of 12 to 15-year-olds relying on the platform, according to a report by UK regulator Ofcom.
July 2023: TikTok Launches TikTok Music Streaming Service
In July 2023, TikTok launched TikTok Music, a new streaming service in Brazil and Indonesia, allowing users to listen to, download, and share songs from major record companies. On July 19, 2023, TikTok Music expanded to Australia, Mexico, and Singapore.
September 2023: DPC Fines TikTok for GDPR Violations
In September 2023, the Irish DPC fined TikTok €345 million for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) related to mishandling children's data.
September 2023: EEOC Complaint Filed Against TikTok for Retaliation
In September 2023, two former ByteDance employees filed a complaint with the EEOC, asking for an investigation into TikTok's practice of retaliation against workers who complain about discrimination.
November 2023: Osama bin Laden's Letter Goes Viral
In November 2023, Osama bin Laden's 2002 "Letter to the American people" went viral on TikTok. The letter criticized the U.S. and its support for Israel. TikTok began removing videos featuring the letter.
November 2023: Singaporean Minister Seeks Information on TikTok Users
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 accused of spreading false information about him.
December 2023: BBC Report on Fake Russian Propaganda Accounts
In December 2023, BBC News reported it had discovered nearly 800 fake TikTok accounts promoting Russian propaganda and disinformation. TikTok's investigation found over 12,000 fake accounts.
December 2023: TikTok Invests in GoTo's Tokopedia
In December 2023, TikTok invested $1.5 billion in GoTo's Indonesian e-commerce business, Tokopedia, expanding its presence in the e-commerce sector.
December 2023: NCRI Study on TikTok Content Amplification/Suppression
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."
December 2023: Australian Inquiry into TikTok's Data Harvesting
In December 2023, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner announced an inquiry into TikTok's data harvesting of Australian citizens, alleging contravention of Australian privacy law.
December 2023: Congressional Inquiry into TikTok's Surveillance of Journalists
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 regarding TikTok's surveillance of journalists.
2023: Influencers Face SAG-AFTRA Strike Restrictions
During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, TikTok influencers were told they would be denied future entry into the union if they partnered with struck studios. This led many creators to stop creating new content which they were not already contractually obligated to create.
2023: Kylie Minogue's "Padam Padam" Enters Radio 1 Playlist
In 2023, Kylie Minogue's "Padam Padam" entered the Radio 1 playlist after being shared by Gen Z on TikTok, even though many youth radio stations had refused to play it.
2023: TikTok Sponsorship of Wrexham A.F.C. Ends
In 2023, TikTok's partnership with Wrexham A.F.C. ended when the club was promoted to the EFL League Two and U.S. airline United took over the sponsorship.
2023: Study on TikTok 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: US Adults Getting News From TikTok
In 2023, the share of U.S. adults who regularly get news from TikTok hit 14%.
January 2024: Universal Music Group Removes Music From TikTok
In January 2024, Universal Music Group (UMG) removed its catalogue of 3 million recordings from TikTok after a dispute over artist payouts and AI regulation. This was the first time UMG withdrew its music from a major platform. The music became unavailable after January 31, 2024.
February 2024: European Commission Investigates TikTok for DSA Violations
In February 2024, the European Commission launched an investigation into TikTok for potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), involving content aimed at children and advertising transparency.
March 2024: Reported losses of TikTok 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's Growth Stagnates in the U.S.
In March 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that TikTok's growth in the U.S. had stagnated.
March 2024: Universal Music Publishing Group Removes Compositions From TikTok
In March 2024, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) removed its catalogue of 4 million compositions from TikTok, following the removal of its recordings in January 2024.
March 2024: FTC Continues Investigation into TikTok
In March 2024, it was reported that the FTC continues to investigate TikTok.
March 2024: US House Passes TikTok Ban Bill
On 13 March 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 7521, which would ban TikTok completely unless it is divested from ByteDance.
April 2024: Taylor Swift's Music Returns to TikTok
In April 2024, Taylor Swift's music returned to TikTok after Universal Music Group's catalogue had been removed from the platform due to licensing disputes.
April 2024: TikTok Users Notified of TikTok Notes App
In April 2024, TikTok users started receiving notifications about a new app called TikTok Notes. The new app is intended to directly compete with Instagram for photo sharing.
April 2024: Second European Commission Investigation into TikTok
In April 2024, the European Commission opened a second investigation into TikTok to assess whether it broke EU law.
April 2024: Senate Passes TikTok Ban Bill as Part of Foreign Aid Package
In April 2024, the House of Representatives included a modified version of the TikTok ban bill in a foreign aid package which was passed by the Senate on 23 April 2024, and signed the next day by Biden.
May 2024: Nebraska Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against TikTok
In May 2024, the Nebraska Attorney General filed a lawsuit against TikTok for allegedly harming minors' mental health through its algorithm.
July 2024: Institute for Strategic Dialogue Report on Neo-Nazi Network
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.
August 2024: FTC and DOJ File Joint Lawsuit
In August 2024, the FTC and U.S. Department of Justice filed a joint lawsuit alleging violations of the 2019 consent decree.
August 2024: NCRI Report on Pro-China Content on TikTok
In August 2024, the NCRI released a report based on user journey data, finding that TikTok returned a higher percentage of positive, neutral, or irrelevant content related to human rights in China. TikTok pushed back against the NCRI report.
September 2024: Report of Adolf Hitler's Speeches 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. Although they were removed by TikTok after the report, mixing audio remains an effective way to evade content moderation on many platforms.
September 2024: TikTok Removes RT and Sputnik Accounts
In September 2024, TikTok removed the accounts of Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik.
October 2024: Senators Request Documents Related to Child Safety Disclosures
In October 2024, U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn requested that TikTok turn over "all documents and information" related to child safety disclosures.
October 2024: European Commission Requests Additional Information from TikTok
In October 2024, the European Commission requested additional information from TikTok relating to its algorithm and risks around elections, mental health, and protection of minors.
November 6, 2024: Canada Orders TikTok Office Shutdown
On November 6, 2024, Canada ordered TikTok to shut down its offices and subsidiary company (TikTok Technology Canada, Inc.) in the country due to national security concerns.
December 2024: European Commission Investigates TikTok over Russian Interference
In December 2024, the European Commission announced an investigation into TikTok over accusations of Russian interference in the 2024 Romanian presidential election.
December 2024: Albania to Shut Down TikTok
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.
2024: TikTok Sponsors Team GB for Summer Olympics
In 2024, TikTok and Team GB signed a sponsorship deal to help UK athletes connect with new audiences for the 2024 Summer Olympics, after digital advertising rules for the Olympics were relaxed.
January 2025: Talks of Selling TikTok's U.S. Operations to Elon Musk
In January 2025, Chinese officials began preliminary talks about potentially selling TikTok's U.S. operations to Elon Musk due to national security concerns and a potential ban.
January 2025: TikTok Briefly Unavailable in the US Before Access Restored
On 18 January 2025, hours before the bill went into effect, TikTok became unavailable across the country, but access was restored the next day after re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump assured TikTok he would not enforce the law.
2025: Investigation Finds TikTok Profiting from Sexual Livestreams
In 2025, an investigation revealed that TikTok was profiting from sexual livestreams in Kenya involving minors.
2025: Albania to Shut Down TikTok
In 2025, the Albanian government will shut down TikTok for at least a year. The announcement of the shutdown came on December 21, 2024.
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