TikTok is stepping beyond the digital screen with its first UK and Ireland Awards, celebrating 72 creators across 12 categories. From travel influencers to comedy sketch stars, these creators, with over 101 million combined followers, will be recognised in a London ceremony, highlighting the growing cultural impact of short-form content.
The platform’s nominees range from lifestyle influencers to niche creators like fossil hunters and ASMR pool cleaners. TikTok’s Melissa McFarlane emphasised that the awards showcase creators’ influence on everything from literature to cooking, proving that TikTok communities are shaping trends well beyond the app.
Nominees like Ayamé Ponder, known for her comedy sketches, are also using their platforms for broader causes. Meanwhile, creators Jade Beaty and Ryan Losasso hope the awards will inspire others to try content creation, a process they say takes considerable effort despite misconceptions.
With millions of European users and global awards spanning 20 regions, TikTok aims to underline the value of its creators’ work. As the app continues to define social media culture, these UK awards celebrate the diverse talents driving its viral success.
Romania‘s telecoms regulator is set to initiate steps to suspend TikTok, citing potential interference in the recent presidential election. Pavel Popescu, the regulator’s deputy head, announced plans to begin the suspension process on Thursday. The action will remain in place until state authorities conclude their investigation into allegations of electoral manipulation linked to the platform.
The scrutiny comes after TikTok‘s role in Sunday’s election raised concerns about misinformation and influence. Officials are prioritising transparency and security during the ongoing electoral process.
The decision underscores the increasing global attention on social media platforms’ influence on democratic processes.
A United States federal appeals court is set to rule by 6 December on whether ByteDance, TikTok‘s Chinese parent company, must divest its US operations or face a ban. The ruling will address national security concerns raised by the Justice Department, which alleges that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses risks due to access to vast American user data. ByteDance has challenged the law as unconstitutional, arguing it unfairly targets TikTok and violates free speech.
The three-judge panel could uphold the law, leading to a likely appeal by ByteDance. Alternatively, the court might allow the law but criticise its fairness, requiring further certification of TikTok as a security risk. A ruling deeming the law unconstitutional could halt efforts to force ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets. Any outcome may result in further legal battles, including an appeal to the Supreme Court.
The case underscores tensions between US national security priorities and free market principles, with over 170 million Americans actively using TikTok. The final decision could shape the future of tech regulation and US-China relations.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with TikTok under the ‘Safer Together’ initiative to enhance digital safety and literacy in Nigeria. That collaboration, announced at the TikTok Online Safety and Digital Awareness Programme in Abuja, reflects Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s digital transformation, supported by a growing tech ecosystem and increasing connectivity.
The partnership addresses key challenges such as misinformation, cyberbullying, and digital exploitation while aligning with NITDA’s regulatory framework, emphasising awareness, innovation, and inclusivity. NITDA aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027, fostering digital inclusion and empowering youth to drive the country’s digital economy. TikTok’s safety features, including screen time management and anti-bullying tools, are integral to educating parents, teachers, and stakeholders on safe and responsible digital practices.
The programme highlights the importance of collective efforts in creating a secure digital environment, requiring collaboration between the government, private sector, and civil society. Through initiatives like this, the partnership aims to inspire creativity, build trust, and shape positive digital experiences for millions in Nigeria while addressing the risks associated with technological advancement.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew recently sought advice from Elon Musk regarding matters tied to the upcoming US administration, according to reports. Chew engaged Musk in discussions about potential policies and their impact on the tech industry.
No specific actions to ensure TikTok’s operations in the US have been confirmed, though ByteDance leadership remains optimistic about maintaining its presence. Reports suggest the company has kept senior executives informed of the talks while exploring various strategic options.
ByteDance reportedly engaged with figures connected to both Trump and Kamala Harris before the US elections to gauge perspectives. These efforts reflect a cautious approach to navigating potential shifts in policy.
Trump, who unsuccessfully attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, has stated he would not support barring the platform if re-elected. The evolving political landscape underscores the stakes for ByteDance and its flagship app in the US.
YouTube Shorts has rolled out a new capability in its Dream Screen feature, enabling users to create AI-generated video backgrounds. Previously limited to image generation, this update harnesses Google DeepMind’s AI video-generation model, Veo, to produce 1080p cinematic-style video clips. Creators can enter text prompts, such as ‘magical forest’ or ‘candy landscape,’ select an animation style, and receive a selection of dynamic video backdrops.
Once a background is chosen, users can film their Shorts with the AI-generated video playing behind them. This feature offers creators unique storytelling opportunities, such as setting videos in imaginative scenes or crafting engaging animated openings. In future updates, YouTube plans to let users generate stand-alone six-second video clips using Dream Screen.
The feature, available in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, distinguishes YouTube Shorts from TikTok, which currently only offers AI-generated background images. By providing tools for creating custom video backdrops, YouTube aims to cement its position as a leader in short-form video innovation.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has reaffirmed that ByteDance must divest TikTok’s US operations by January 19 or risk a ban. The measure, driven by security concerns over potential Chinese surveillance, was signed into law in April. A one-time extension of 90 days is available if significant progress is made, but Blumenthal emphasised that laws cannot be disregarded.
Blumenthal also raised alarms over China’s influence on US technology companies. Tesla’s production in China and the US military’s reliance on SpaceX were flagged as security risks. He pointed to Elon Musk’s economic ties with China as a potential vulnerability, warning that such dependencies could compromise national interests.
Apple faced criticism for complying with Chinese censorship and surveillance demands while generating significant revenue from the country. Concerns were voiced that major tech companies might prioritise profits over US security. Neither Apple nor Tesla has commented on these claims.
TikTok and ByteDance are challenging the divestment law in court. A decision is expected soon, but restrictions will tighten for app stores and hosting services if compliance is not achieved. The Biden administration has clarified that it supports ending Chinese ownership of TikTok rather than an outright ban.
TikTok has rolled out Symphony Creative Studios worldwide, a generative AI video creation platform designed for advertisers. The platform aims to simplify the creation of tailored, high-quality content for businesses, creators, and agencies.
Unveiled earlier this year at the TikTok World Product Summit, Symphony is part of a broader suite of tools. These include Symphony Assistant, Symphony Digital Avatars, and the TikTok Ads Manager, all focused on enhancing creative capabilities on the platform.
Symphony Creative Studios offers features like automated content generation from text, video previews, remixing, and digital avatar creation. Users can also access tools for translation and customisation, making it easier to adapt content for diverse audiences.
AI-powered tools have become essential in attracting brands, with TikTok joining other tech companies in integrating these technologies to strengthen its advertising business. Symphony aims to position the platform as a leader in digital marketing innovation.
The Irish media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, has mandated that online platforms TikTok, X, and Meta must take decisive steps to prevent the spread of terrorist content on their services, giving them three months to report on their progress.
This action follows notifications from EU authorities under the Terrorist Content Online Regulation. If the platforms fail to comply, the regulator can impose fines of up to four percent of their global revenue.
This decision aligns with Ireland’s broader enforcement of digital laws, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and a new online safety code. The DSA has already prompted investigations, such as the European Commission’s probe into X last December, and Ireland’s new safety code will impose binding content moderation rules for video-sharing platforms with European headquarters in Ireland. These initiatives aim to curb the spread of harmful and illegal content on major social media platforms.
The Canadian government has ordered TikTok’s Canadian business to shut down, citing national security concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership. The decision, announced Wednesday, affects the operations of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, but does not block Canadians from accessing the app or creating content on it. According to Canadian Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, the shutdown aims to address specific security risks posed by ByteDance’s activities in Canada.
This action comes after Canada’s year-long review of TikTok’s investment plans in the country. Canadian law allows the government to scrutinise foreign investments for potential risks, though details of these assessments are confidential. In response, TikTok has announced plans to contest the order in court, citing concerns about job losses for local employees impacted by the decision.
While Canada has already banned TikTok on government-issued devices, the shutdown of ByteDance’s Canadian operations reflects mounting pressure on TikTok in North America. The United States has set a January deadline for ByteDance to divest its US TikTok assets or face a ban. Both countries point to national security risks associated with TikTok’s ownership and data practices as key reasons for these measures
