Oracle wins bidding war for TikTokโs US operations
A month of uncertainty surrounding TikTokโs future in the US has reportedly ended, with tech consortium Oracle winning the race to head up all Western operations. Trump has made no secret of his disdain for TikTok since ByteDanceโs acquisition of Musical.ly in 2017, but a deal has been reportedly been...
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This beautiful TikTok challenge honours cultural heritage
POC creators unite in a global celebration that highlights traditional dress, challenging the app's algorithm in the process. Gen Zโs app du jour, TikTok is a hotbed of challenges, dances, and trends. Forever growing in popularity, in recent months the video-sharing platform has gone trans-national and trans-generational, the latest hype...
Snapchat launches face masks for 2020 March on Washington
Six black artists were enlisted to create digital face mask filters and Bitmoji accessories for Snapchat. Real, physical versions are also available to purchase. Snapchat has released a set of new selfie filters that allow users to wear digital face masks to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the March...
TikTok enlists Teespring to oversee new merch feature
TikTok creators will soon be able to sell original merchandise within the app. Having always had the potential to become an eCommerce powerhouse, TikTok is finally rolling out integration for in-app merch purchases this September. Teaming up with custom apparel platform Teespring, TikTok users across the globe will now be able...
Twitter calls out disturbing new TikTok Holocaust trend
TikTok users have been dressing up as Holocaust victims as part of a semi-viral trend. Unsurprisingly, The Auschwitz Memorial Museum has asked for it to stop. TikTok has been through the ringer recently. In recent months itโs faced accusations of Chinese spyware, criticisms of deep fake investment, and Trump has...
Instagram introduces QR codes to individual profiles
The social media giant is launching QR codes globally, allowing consumers to engage with retailers and other physical businesses contactlessly. Instagram has rolled out yet another update to its mobile app, this time offering a universal QR code that can be used to quickly access individual profiles. Any supporting third-party...
Triller: the app well placed to become TikTokโs main rival
Yet another app has joined the race to becoming Gen Z's new favourite video-sharing platform as the White House moves to ban TikTok. Facing a potential ban in the US due to various security and privacy concerns, TikTok is fighting for its life and, as a result, millions of its users may well be looking for a new home in the weeks to come. Following months of controversy, a number...
Is Instagram โReelsโ a genuine threat to TikTok?
With TikTok edging closer to possible elimination in the US market, Instagram has decided to launch its own short-bite video platform โReelsโ. But is it good enough to rival TikTok? Last week Instagram rolled out its newest feature โReelsโ across 50 countries, with the intention of gaining a lucrative slice of the short-form content space. Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of Vine in 2016, TikTok recognised โ and...
Google transforms recycled bottles into Pixel phone cases
In its quest to build more sustainable infrastructure, Google has released a series of phone cases made from recycled plastic for the Pixel 4a. Itโs becoming common knowledge that the amount of waste in landfill sites is growing every year, and proprietors of annually renewing tech must take part of the blame. Weโre currently on course to hit 110 million tons of waste by 2050, and with
Microsoft offers TikTok US lifeline with potential deal
Microsoft is in advanced discussions over a potential TikTok purchase in the US, as President Trump looks to address the platformโs privacy concerns. After TikTokโs meteoric rise during lockdown saw it become the most downloaded app of 2020, parent company ByteDance and host-nation China were dragged through the mud in the mainstream media. Reports of invasive data collection software within TikTokโs programming sparked global trepidation over Chinese surveillance, with India...
