TikTok news

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

public

TikTok • 3 min read

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

Donald Trump has formally endorsed the plan to sell TikTok’s US operations to a new business majority owned by American investors. The President signed an executive order yesterday which says that plan complies with the sell-or-be-banned law passed by Congress last year over data security concerns…

Chris Cooke • 26 Sep 2025

Oracle will control TikTok algorithm in US, say White House officials

public

TikTok • 3 min read

Oracle will control TikTok algorithm in US, say White House officials

The White House has revealed more details about the deal to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US. It will involve a bigger role for Oracle, run by Trump ally Larry Ellison, whose son now also leads CBS and MTV. If Oracle controls the TikTok algorithm, that will be quite the media empire…

Chris Cooke • 23 Sep 2025

TikTok deal details leak as Trump pushes deadline for sale of US business back to December

public

TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok deal details leak as Trump pushes deadline for sale of US business back to December

Donald Trump has again extended the deadline for China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok, this time to 16 Dec. A framework deal was agreed with the Chinese government on Monday that will see TikTok US become 80% owned by American investors. More details about that deal have now leaked…

Chris Cooke • 17 Sep 2025

TikTok saved as Trump says deal agreed with China

public

TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok saved as Trump says deal agreed with China

With the latest deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations coming up this week, Donald Trump has indicated that a deal has been agreed. The Chinese government needs to approve any sale of TikTok’s US business, but that has seemingly been achieved at trade talks in Spain…

Chris Cooke • 15 Sep 2025

TikTok “slow poison” to kids say French MPs as they propose social media curfew for teenagers

public

TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok “slow poison” to kids say French MPs as they propose social media curfew for teenagers

French politicians have published a damning report accusing TikTok of pushing harmful content to young people. They’ve referred the company to prosecutors to see if it committed any crimes and proposed that children under fifteen should be banned from using all social media platforms…

Chris Cooke • 12 Sep 2025

If China blocks TikTok deal app will “go dark” says US Commerce Secretary, but hints deal “coming soon”

public

TikTok • 2 min read

If China blocks TikTok deal app will “go dark” says US Commerce Secretary, but hints deal “coming soon”

TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain. Although Donald Trump has now postponed three times the deadline for ByteDance to sell the app in order to avoid a ban, his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said the sale must happen, and if China blocks the deal “TikTok is going to go dark”…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jul 2025

Blackstone bails on consortium bidding to buy TikTok US - will a deal still be done by September deadline?

public

TikTok • 2 min read

Blackstone bails on consortium bidding to buy TikTok US - will a deal still be done by September deadline?

Will TikTok US be under new ownership before the current 17 Sep deadline to avoid a ban? Donald Trump recently seemed to think that it would be, but current owner ByteDance seems less certain. And now one of the backers of the consortium meant to be buying TikTok US has bailed on the deal…

Chris Cooke • 21 Jul 2025

We are TikTok users so we can use music on TikTok, barks DSW Shoe Warehouse

public

DSW Shoe Warehouse • 4 min read

We are TikTok users so we can use music on TikTok, barks DSW Shoe Warehouse

In May, Warner sued DSW Shoe Warehouse over unlicensed music in the retailer’s social media posts. Now the shoe seller wants the courts to confirm it hasn’t infringed any one’s copyrights because it’s a TikTok user and therefore should be covered by TikTok’s music licences, even though it isn’t…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jul 2025

TikTok has built a US-specific app ahead of Trump’s forced sale

public

TikTok • 3 min read

TikTok has built a US-specific app ahead of Trump’s forced sale

Donald Trump has said that his administration will this week seek approval from the Chinese government for a sale of TikTok’s US operations by China’s ByteDance to a group of American investors. With a sale now looking likely, it’s reported that TikTok is prepping a new specific app for US users…

Chris Cooke • 07 Jul 2025

As Trump extends TikTok timeline yet again, will a ban or sale ever actually happen?

public

TikTok • 4 min read

As Trump extends TikTok timeline yet again, will a ban or sale ever actually happen?

The latest deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US, or face a ban, was today. But the White House has confirmed Donald Trump is pushing the deadline back for a third time. It makes you wonder if the law passed by Congress ordering a change in ownership or a ban will ever actually be enforced…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jun 2025

Yet another reprieve for TikTok as Trump pauses ban after tariffs up-end deal to sell US operations

public

TikTok • 4 min read

Yet another reprieve for TikTok as Trump pauses ban after tariffs up-end deal to sell US operations

The latest deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US was this weekend. It was not met, because officials in China were in no mood to approve a deal after Trump ramped up the tariff on Chinese imports. But Trump has extended the deadline by another 75 days in the hope a deal can still be done…

Chris Cooke • 07 Apr 2025

As the next TikTok ban approaches in the US, is a revamp of Oracle’s 2020 deal likely to save the app?

public

TikTok • 3 min read

As the next TikTok ban approaches in the US, is a revamp of Oracle’s 2020 deal likely to save the app?

TikTok is set to be banned in the US on 5 Apr unless it is sold by China-based owner ByteDance. Negotiations for a sale are very much underway in the White House, including a deal involving Oracle, though it’s not clear that deal will be approved by China, or supported by Republicans in Congress…

Chris Cooke • 18 Mar 2025