Universal Music Group warned Tuesday that it would pull its songs from TikTok, after a breakdown in talks with the social media platform over issues including the compensation of artists and songwriters.

In an open letter, Universal accused TikTok of "trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music."

Both sides have been discussing the terms of a new agreement, with their existing contract set to expire on Wednesday.

But their deal has not been renewed. 
 
Among the issues raised in talks were "appropriate compensation" for artists and songwriters, online safety for users, as well as the protection of artists from the harms of artificial intelligence, the letter added.

But as negotiations proceeded, Universal said, "TikTok attempted to bully us into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth."

Major music companies earn royalty payments from streaming and social media platforms.

Universal said, however, that TikTok proposed paying "a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay."

In a statement TikTok said it was "sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists."

Calling Universal's characterizations "false," the social media giant said the label had "chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent."

Despite TikTok's large user base, it accounts for just about one percent of Universal's total revenue, the label said.

Universal noted other problems such as large amounts of AI-generated recordings on the platform, alongside what it called a lack of effort to deal with infringements on artists' music.

Artists on Universal's labels include Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

Owned by Chinese company ByteDance, TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms globally, with more than one billion users.

Universal Music Group warned Tuesday that it would pull its songs from TikTok, after a breakdown in talks with the social media platform over issues including the compensation of artists and songwriters.

Universal Music Group warned Tuesday that it would pull its songs from TikTok, after a breakdown in talks with the social media platform over issues including the compensation of artists and songwriters. In an open letter, Universal accused TikTok of "trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music." Both sides have been discussing the terms of a new agreement, with their existing contract set to expire on Wednesday. But their deal has not been renewed. Among the issues raised in talks were "appropriate compensation" for artists and songwriters, online safety for users, as well as the protection of artists from the harms of artificial intelligence, the letter added. But as negotiations proceeded, Universal said, "TikTok attempted to bully us into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth." Major music companies earn royalty payments from streaming and social media platforms. Universal said, however, that TikTok proposed paying "a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay." In a statement TikTok said it was "sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists." Calling Universal's characterizations "false," the social media giant said the label had "chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent." Despite TikTok's large user base, it accounts for just about one percent of Universal's total revenue, the label said. Universal noted other problems such as large amounts of AI-generated recordings on the platform, alongside what it called a lack of effort to deal with infringements on artists' music. Artists on Universal's labels include Taylor Swift and The Weeknd. Owned by Chinese company ByteDance, TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms globally, with more than one billion users.

Universal Music warns it will pull songs from TikTok

Universal Music Group said in a statement early Wednesday that it was pulling its tracks due to a lack of compensation for artists and songwriters.

Universal Music Group to remove songs from TikTok

Last week, several social media posts described a 'baby shower'&nbsp;that appeared to show five pregnant baby mothers whose babies were seemingly fathered by the same person: 22-year-old Zeddy Will.

The New York-based 'baby shower' event immediately went viral all over the world and began appearing in the search trends globally. Social media was filled with reactions from shocked netizens. As early as a day before filing this report, full-fledged opinion articles were being published to describe the purported repulsive nature of such relationships where children do not grow up in a stable, two-parent home.

But before you know the real nature of that viral baby shower, here's how the viral baby shower moment was created.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened?</h2>

New York City resident Zeddy Will, 22, a musician with a sizable TikTok following, hosted a baby shower event, a person Lizzy Ashliegh who appeared as Will's partner in a social media post had&nbsp;claimed.

The baby shower appeared to have been&nbsp;hosted in New York's Queens on January 14.

The person who appeared to be one of the five moms-to-be, including Lizzy Ashleigh, and the biological father Zeddy Will posed for a joint photo on the invitation, which said: "Welcome little Zeddy Wills 1-5." 
&nbsp; 
"I guess we are Sister Wives now,"&nbsp;Ashleigh captioned the video referring to a popular Travel and Living Show that shows the lives of a polygamist family.&nbsp;

In a follow-up video, Ashleigh revealed that the five moms – Ashleigh, Bonnie B, Kay Merie, Jylene Vila, and Iyanla Kalifa Galletti – have "accepted each other" because it is "better for the little ones" to grow up in a "big family."

"Look at our beautiful family!" she captioned one of the photos. "We love our Baby Daddy! We will not ruin our babies’ lives! Our families have accepted this!"

Zeddy Will's co-manager was quoted as saying by The New York Post: "Society has shifted, and in turn so has modern relationship dynamics. The essence lies in redefining relationships personally, breaking away from the one-size-fits-all approach and societal pressures to conform."

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Dhaka to impose tax on multiple marriages

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&nbsp;

Zeddy Will's co-manager's account gave the above 'baby shower' story the&nbsp;semblance of truth.

<h2>What is the 'truth'?</h2>

Zeddy Ashleigh has now reached WION via email to state that the viral 'baby shower' event was&nbsp;'satire' and 'not real'.&nbsp;

"None of the girls in those photos are pregnant. We were on the set of a Music Video Shoot for a song called "Cha Cha" by Zeddy Will," Ashleigh wrote in an email to WION.

Last week, several social media posts described a 'baby shower' that appeared to show five pregnant baby mothers whose babies were seemingly fathered by the same person: 22-year-old Zeddy Will.

Last week, several social media posts described a 'baby shower' that appeared to show five pregnant baby mothers whose babies were seemingly fathered by the same person: 22-year-old Zeddy Will. The New York-based 'baby shower' event immediately went viral all over the world and began appearing in the search trends globally. Social media was filled with reactions from shocked netizens. As early as a day before filing this report, full-fledged opinion articles were being published to describe the purported repulsive nature of such relationships where children do not grow up in a stable, two-parent home. But before you know the real nature of that viral baby shower, here's how the viral baby shower moment was created. What happened? New York City resident Zeddy Will, 22, a musician with a sizable TikTok following, hosted a baby shower event, a person Lizzy Ashliegh who appeared as Will's partner in a social media post had claimed. The baby shower appeared to have been hosted in New York's Queens on January 14. The person who appeared to be one of the five moms-to-be, including Lizzy Ashleigh, and the biological father Zeddy Will posed for a joint photo on the invitation, which said: "Welcome little Zeddy Wills 1-5." "I guess we are Sister Wives now," Ashleigh captioned the video referring to a popular Travel and Living Show that shows the lives of a polygamist family. In a follow-up video, Ashleigh revealed that the five moms – Ashleigh, Bonnie B, Kay Merie, Jylene Vila, and Iyanla Kalifa Galletti – have "accepted each other" because it is "better for the little ones" to grow up in a "big family." "Look at our beautiful family!" she captioned one of the photos. "We love our Baby Daddy! We will not ruin our babies’ lives! Our families have accepted this!" Zeddy Will's co-manager was quoted as saying by The New York Post: "Society has shifted, and in turn so has modern relationship dynamics. The essence lies in redefining relationships personally, breaking away from the one-size-fits-all approach and societal pressures to conform." Also watch | Gravitas: Dhaka to impose tax on multiple marriages × Zeddy Will's co-manager's account gave the above 'baby shower' story the semblance of truth. What is the 'truth'? Zeddy Ashleigh has now reached WION via email to state that the viral 'baby shower' event was 'satire' and 'not real'. "None of the girls in those photos are pregnant. We were on the set of a Music Video Shoot for a song called "Cha Cha" by Zeddy Will," Ashleigh wrote in an email to WION.

‘Truth’ behind New York’s viral baby shower that shocked netizens globally

A young ‘influencer’ from war-torn Yemen has become a TikTok sensation in Arab nations by promoting a contentious cause: Support for attacks against ships and vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. The 19-year-old Rashed Al-Haddad, who lives in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa has been dubbed as "Tim-Huthi Chalamet" by netizens as he looks like "Wonka" star Timothee Chalamet.

"I received many offers to participate in fashion shows and advertisements, but I decided to take advantage of this fame for the Palestinian cause," the so-called influencer was quoted as saying by AFP.

Rashed Al-Haddad has so far made the most out of the crisis in the West Asian region, boosting his reach on social media through making a crazy popular video shot aboard Galaxy Leader, the Israel-linked cargo ship that was captured in November.

The Houthi rebels have disrupted the global shipping routes by waging relentless attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, causing companies to opt for longer and costlier alternative around South Africa. These actions have led the US to declare Houthis a terrorist organisation and an international coalition led by the US and UK to launch strikes in Yemen.

With increased international attention on Yemen, Rashed too witnessed a drastic rise in his popularity and user engagement on social media.

“When I started on TikTok, I posted videos of the ship (Galaxy Leader) that was seized by the Yemenis. When I posted the video clips, they reached millions of views within four days," he told AFP in Sanaa, wearing a combat belt with a rifle slung across his lap.

Support for what most Western nations see as ‘terrorism’ led TikTok to delete his account permanently. He was also deplatformed from Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta, for violating their hate speech guidelines.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw0niDKC1J6uzLwuYiWrC8Ng" data-ved="2ahUKEwiIg5eZkfuDAxVS7zgGHetQDe0QxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-uk-conduct-fresh-series-of-air-strikes-against-houthi-targets-in-yemen-682642" jsname="YKoRaf">US and UK conduct fresh series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen</a>

"Three of my TikTok accounts were banned as well, but I have created new accounts, and thankfully, the number of followers is increasing," Haddad added.

He said he was happy to have connected with many westerners, who followed his accounts across social media platforms.

Watch:&nbsp;Houthis order UN staff from US, UK to leave Yemen in a month

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"I'm not thinking of becoming famous because I'm handsome in order to do advertisements or to be an actor,” he said, while shrugging off comparisons with Hollywood's Chalamet.

(With inputs from agencies)

A young ‘influencer’ from war-torn Yemen has become a TikTok sensation in Arab nations by promoting a contentious cause: Support for attacks against ships and vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels.

A young ‘influencer’ from war-torn Yemen has become a TikTok sensation in Arab nations by promoting a contentious cause: Support for attacks against ships and vessels in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. The 19-year-old Rashed Al-Haddad, who lives in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa has been dubbed as "Tim-Huthi Chalamet" by netizens as he looks like "Wonka" star Timothee Chalamet. "I received many offers to participate in fashion shows and advertisements, but I decided to take advantage of this fame for the Palestinian cause," the so-called influencer was quoted as saying by AFP. Rashed Al-Haddad has so far made the most out of the crisis in the West Asian region, boosting his reach on social media through making a crazy popular video shot aboard Galaxy Leader, the Israel-linked cargo ship that was captured in November. The Houthi rebels have disrupted the global shipping routes by waging relentless attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, causing companies to opt for longer and costlier alternative around South Africa. These actions have led the US to declare Houthis a terrorist organisation and an international coalition led by the US and UK to launch strikes in Yemen. With increased international attention on Yemen, Rashed too witnessed a drastic rise in his popularity and user engagement on social media. “When I started on TikTok, I posted videos of the ship (Galaxy Leader) that was seized by the Yemenis. When I posted the video clips, they reached millions of views within four days," he told AFP in Sanaa, wearing a combat belt with a rifle slung across his lap. Support for what most Western nations see as ‘terrorism’ led TikTok to delete his account permanently. He was also deplatformed from Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta, for violating their hate speech guidelines. Also read: US and UK conduct fresh series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen "Three of my TikTok accounts were banned as well, but I have created new accounts, and thankfully, the number of followers is increasing," Haddad added. He said he was happy to have connected with many westerners, who followed his accounts across social media platforms. Watch: Houthis order UN staff from US, UK to leave Yemen in a month × "I'm not thinking of becoming famous because I'm handsome in order to do advertisements or to be an actor,” he said, while shrugging off comparisons with Hollywood's Chalamet. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Tim-Houthi Chalamet,’ 19-year-old becomes TikTok sensation for romanticising Red Sea attacks

In a plot straight out of a movie, long-lost identical twins Amy and Ano, separated at birth, have been reunited after 20 years, thanks to&nbsp;TikTok. The twins were taken away from their mother soon after birth and sold to separate families.&nbsp;

They remained oblivious to each other's presence up until 2014&nbsp;when&nbsp;Amy Khvitia was at her godmother's house near the Black Sea and watching Georgia's Got Talent on TV. During one of the performances, a girl looked exactly like her, so much so that everyone called Amy's mother, asking her why their daughter was dancing using another name.&nbsp;

However, the incident did not lead to anything until seven years later. In 2021,&nbsp;Georgia resident&nbsp;Ano&nbsp;Sartania received a TikTok video showing a woman with blue hair, bearing a shocking resemblance to her.&nbsp;

Ano attempted to trace Amy and after gruelling efforts, she got connected to her long-lost sister on Facebook.

"I have been looking for you for so long!" she messaged. "Me too," replied Ano.&nbsp;

At this stage, both did not know they were sisters but the similarities in face, music, dance, art, food and everything became too impossible to ignore. It was also discovered they had the same genetic disease, a bone disorder called dysplasia.

"Every time I learned something new about Ano, things got stranger," Amy told BBC.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trending-on-wion-couple-gives-birth-to-momo-twins-566290">Watch | Trending on WION: Couple gives birth to 'momo' twins</a>

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<h2>Mysteries unravel&nbsp;</h2>

After they met in person, the twins decided to confront their families and that is when skeletons started tumbling out of the closet. Their families revealed that they had been adopted separately, a few weeks apart in 2002 after the father illegally sold them.&nbsp;

Continuing their investigation, the twins found the details on their official birth certificates, including the date they were born, were forged.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/couple-welcomes-set-of-rare-momo-twins-in-us-566019">Also read |&nbsp;Couple welcomes set of rare 'MoMo' twins in US</a>

As the twins unravelled the truth, they realised that akin to them, tens of thousands of other babies in Georgia had also been taken from hospitals and sold over the last few decades.&nbsp;

According to BBC, buying a child was an expensive business back then. It cost about $1,400 for a girl and $2,100 for a boy which is about a year's salary in the European nation. Some of the children ended up in&nbsp;foreign families in the US, Canada, Cyprus, Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a plot straight out of a movie, long-lost identical twins Amy and Ano, separated at birth, have been reunited after 20 years, thanks to TikTok. The twins were taken away from their mother soon after birth and sold to separate families.

In a plot straight out of a movie, long-lost identical twins Amy and Ano, separated at birth, have been reunited after 20 years, thanks to TikTok. The twins were taken away from their mother soon after birth and sold to separate families. They remained oblivious to each other's presence up until 2014 when Amy Khvitia was at her godmother's house near the Black Sea and watching Georgia's Got Talent on TV. During one of the performances, a girl looked exactly like her, so much so that everyone called Amy's mother, asking her why their daughter was dancing using another name. However, the incident did not lead to anything until seven years later. In 2021, Georgia resident Ano Sartania received a TikTok video showing a woman with blue hair, bearing a shocking resemblance to her. Ano attempted to trace Amy and after gruelling efforts, she got connected to her long-lost sister on Facebook. "I have been looking for you for so long!" she messaged. "Me too," replied Ano. At this stage, both did not know they were sisters but the similarities in face, music, dance, art, food and everything became too impossible to ignore. It was also discovered they had the same genetic disease, a bone disorder called dysplasia. "Every time I learned something new about Ano, things got stranger," Amy told BBC. Watch | Trending on WION: Couple gives birth to 'momo' twins × Mysteries unravel After they met in person, the twins decided to confront their families and that is when skeletons started tumbling out of the closet. Their families revealed that they had been adopted separately, a few weeks apart in 2002 after the father illegally sold them. Continuing their investigation, the twins found the details on their official birth certificates, including the date they were born, were forged. Also read | Couple welcomes set of rare 'MoMo' twins in US As the twins unravelled the truth, they realised that akin to them, tens of thousands of other babies in Georgia had also been taken from hospitals and sold over the last few decades. According to BBC, buying a child was an expensive business back then. It cost about $1,400 for a girl and $2,100 for a boy which is about a year's salary in the European nation. Some of the children ended up in foreign families in the US, Canada, Cyprus, Russia and Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

Twins separated and sold at birth, reunited by TikTok video

In a world where lines between reality and artificial intelligence are increasingly blurred, parents are concerned about unrealistic beauty standards being set and their impact on young minds.

AI influencers promote wrong beauty standards, parents urge TikTok to label AI content

ByteDance, the parent company of popular social media platform TikTok on Tuesday, announced that it was engaging in discussions with potential buyers for its gaming assets, marking a move away from the gaming industry. <o:p></o:p>

According to Reuters, Tencent, the world's largest video games company might be one of the potential suitors.<o:p></o:p>

A ByteDance spokesperson cited by Reuters said that, while talks are ongoing, no conclusive deal has been reached yet.<o:p></o:p>

ByteDance's gaming unit, Nuverse, is at the centre of these negotiations. <o:p></o:p>

Notable titles such as "Crystal of Atland" and "Earth: Revival" are reportedly part of the discussions between ByteDance and Tencent, as reported by local media outlet LatePost. <o:p></o:p>

The move comes as ByteDance continues its efforts to reallocate resources and focus on core business areas, having declared its intention to step back from the gaming sector back in November.<o:p></o:p>

In a statement, ByteDance emphasised its commitment to the strategic overhaul of Nuverse, clarifying that it would no longer pursue the gaming market actively. <o:p></o:p>

Industry insiders revealed that the company has discontinued with the development of unreleased games and has aimed to divest from titles that have already been launched.<o:p></o:p>

This shift follows five years of ByteDance's prominent presence in the global video games market, estimated to be worth $185 billion.<o:p></o:p>

The gaming community has been closely watching ByteDance's move to sell Moonton, another gaming unit acquired in 2021, as reported by Reuters in November. <o:p></o:p>

ByteDance's decision to divest itself of gaming assets indicates a shift in its corporate strategy, aligning with its renewed focus on key business areas.<o:p></o:p>

As of now, potential buyers for Moonton remain undisclosed.<o:p></o:p>

Notably, the relationship between ByteDance and Tencent has seen a positive turn after a period of intense competition. <o:p></o:p>

The companies are now reportedly in talks for a potential deal, showcasing a shift from rivalry to collaboration. <o:p></o:p>

This newfound cooperation is evident in Tencent's utilisation of ByteDance's advertising network to promote its latest game, "DreamStar," as reported by Reuters in December.<o:p></o:p>

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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ByteDance, the parent company of popular social media platform TikTok on Tuesday, announced that it was engaging in discussions with potential buyers for its gaming assets, marking a move away from the gaming industry.

ByteDance, the parent company of popular social media platform TikTok on Tuesday, announced that it was engaging in discussions with potential buyers for its gaming assets, marking a move away from the gaming industry. According to Reuters, Tencent, the world's largest video games company might be one of the potential suitors. A ByteDance spokesperson cited by Reuters said that, while talks are ongoing, no conclusive deal has been reached yet. ByteDance's gaming unit, Nuverse, is at the centre of these negotiations. Notable titles such as "Crystal of Atland" and "Earth: Revival" are reportedly part of the discussions between ByteDance and Tencent, as reported by local media outlet LatePost. The move comes as ByteDance continues its efforts to reallocate resources and focus on core business areas, having declared its intention to step back from the gaming sector back in November. In a statement, ByteDance emphasised its commitment to the strategic overhaul of Nuverse, clarifying that it would no longer pursue the gaming market actively. Industry insiders revealed that the company has discontinued with the development of unreleased games and has aimed to divest from titles that have already been launched. This shift follows five years of ByteDance's prominent presence in the global video games market, estimated to be worth $185 billion. The gaming community has been closely watching ByteDance's move to sell Moonton, another gaming unit acquired in 2021, as reported by Reuters in November. ByteDance's decision to divest itself of gaming assets indicates a shift in its corporate strategy, aligning with its renewed focus on key business areas. As of now, potential buyers for Moonton remain undisclosed. Notably, the relationship between ByteDance and Tencent has seen a positive turn after a period of intense competition. The companies are now reportedly in talks for a potential deal, showcasing a shift from rivalry to collaboration. This newfound cooperation is evident in Tencent's utilisation of ByteDance's advertising network to promote its latest game, "DreamStar," as reported by Reuters in December. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

TikTok’s owner ByteDance explores gaming asset sale with Tencent and others

A new research published by Taiwan's Information Environment Research Centre (IORG) has revealed that people using the short-video app Douyin, the Chinese-language version of TikTok are more likely to subscribe to views in favour of the communist Chinese government.

A new research published by Taiwan's Information Environment Research Centre (IORG) has revealed that people using the short-video app Douyin, the Chinese-language version of TikTok are more likely to subscribe to views in favour of the communist Chinese government. In the study, 18.2 per cent of respondents identified themselves as Chinese-speaking TikTok users who spent an average of 4.4 days per week active on the app. This particular bracket of respondents was more likely, by up to 10 percentage points or more, to agree with China's political positions while being sceptic about the policies of the United States. The majority of Chinese-speaking TikTok users strongly harboured beliefs that the Taiwanese government's closer relations with the US were "provoking China" and likely to lead to a conflict across the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, the respondents believed that Taiwan's economic prosperity was closely linked to the island nation signing various trade deals with Beijing. According to analytics service QuestMobile, based in Beijing, TikTok's Chinese language cousin Douyin had around 750 million monthly active users as of May. Since Taiwan is the frontline of China's information war, the increased use of Douyin is being seen as a national security threat. Last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned that TikTok and Douyin were a threat to national security. Afterwards, TikTok was banned on government devices citing cybersecurity concerns. Watch | China eyes Taiwan 'reunification' | China bolsters military aggression China and Taiwan Since the two sides split in 1949 after the civil war, they have been embroiled in a perpetual fight. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory but the island nation and its people have never accepted Beijing's control. China under President Xi Jinping has made it clear that Beijing wants to take control of Taiwan, by force if necessary. During the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) congress last year, Xi asserted that the Taiwan matter was for the Chinese people only. “The resolution of the Taiwan issue is a matter for the Chinese people themselves, to be decided by the Chinese people," said Xi. Also read | Taiwan: 10 former and current soldiers charged with spying for China “We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort. But, we will never promise to renounce the use of force. And we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.” Over the last 12-15 months, Beijing has staged war games around the island, fired indiscriminate missiles and declared it a no-fly zone multiple times, in an attempt to simulate how it would look to cut Taiwan off in case of a potential conflict. (With inputs from agencies)

TikTok users more likely to subscribe to pro-China views: Research

The latest Pew Research Center survey of US teens revealed that they continued to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc, despite rising concerns about social media's impact on youth.&nbsp;

The teens have been using these social media platforms at high rates, with some describing their social media use as "almost constant".&nbsp;

The survey revealed that YouTube continues to dominate as roughly nine-in-ten teens have said that they use the video-streaming platform.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-ai-powered-campaign-caller-ashley-deployed-ahead-of-2024-elections-in-us-669250">World’s first AI-powered campaign caller ‘Ashley’ deployed ahead of 2024 elections in US</a>&nbsp;

YouTube became the most widely used platform measured in the survey, which was conducted between September 26 to October 23, 2023.&nbsp;

The survey included 1,453 teens between 13 to 17 years of age. It covered social media, internet use and device ownership among teens.&nbsp;

The survey also found that TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram remain popular among teens. TikTok (63%), Snapchat (60%), and Instagram (59%) are all popular among youths aged 13 to 17. These proportions are almost seven in ten for older youths aged 15 to 17.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-flouted-copyrights-to-train-its-ai-llama-despite-warning-from-lawyers-claims-lawsuit-669148">Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors</a>

When it comes to Facebook, it's not that popular as the survey found that teens are less likely to be using Facebook and Twitter (recently renamed X) than they were a decade ago.&nbsp;

There was a time when Facebook dominated the social media landscape among America's youth. However, the percentage has dropped from 71% in 2014-2015 to 33% today. In July 2023, X has also seen that its users have dropped during the past decade.&nbsp;

<h2>Social media sites underfire&nbsp;</h2>

Experts have raised concerns over social media's impact on the young generation as questions have been raised over the algorithmic techniques that platforms use to draw in and retain younger users.&nbsp;

In the US, a coalition of 33 states in October sued Meta Platforms for contributing to the youth mental health crisis.&nbsp;

They alleged that the company knowingly and deliberately designed features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. Meta has denied the charges.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The latest Pew Research Center survey of US teens revealed that they continued to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc, despite rising concerns about social media's impact on youth.

The latest Pew Research Center survey of US teens revealed that they continued to use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc, despite rising concerns about social media's impact on youth. The teens have been using these social media platforms at high rates, with some describing their social media use as "almost constant". The survey revealed that YouTube continues to dominate as roughly nine-in-ten teens have said that they use the video-streaming platform. Also read: World’s first AI-powered campaign caller ‘Ashley’ deployed ahead of 2024 elections in US YouTube became the most widely used platform measured in the survey, which was conducted between September 26 to October 23, 2023. The survey included 1,453 teens between 13 to 17 years of age. It covered social media, internet use and device ownership among teens. The survey also found that TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram remain popular among teens. TikTok (63%), Snapchat (60%), and Instagram (59%) are all popular among youths aged 13 to 17. These proportions are almost seven in ten for older youths aged 15 to 17. Also read: Meta flouted copyrights to train its AI 'Llama' despite warning from lawyers, claims lawsuit by authors When it comes to Facebook, it's not that popular as the survey found that teens are less likely to be using Facebook and Twitter (recently renamed X) than they were a decade ago. There was a time when Facebook dominated the social media landscape among America's youth. However, the percentage has dropped from 71% in 2014-2015 to 33% today. In July 2023, X has also seen that its users have dropped during the past decade. Social media sites underfire Experts have raised concerns over social media's impact on the young generation as questions have been raised over the algorithmic techniques that platforms use to draw in and retain younger users. In the US, a coalition of 33 states in October sued Meta Platforms for contributing to the youth mental health crisis. They alleged that the company knowingly and deliberately designed features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. Meta has denied the charges. (With inputs from agencies)

US teens actively using several social media platforms despite concerns, finds survey

China's TikTok has agreed to spend $840 million to buy most of Indonesian tech conglomerate GoTo's e-commerce unit – a move that appears to allow it to restart its online shopping business in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

It also said it will invest further in the business, Tokopedia, which is Indonesia's biggest e-commerce platform, for a total outlay of $1.5 billion.

TikTok had been forced to close its relatively new e-commerce service, TikTok Shop, in Indonesia after the country banned online shopping on social media platforms in September, citing the need to protect smaller merchants and users' data.

The new partnership will commence with a pilot period carried out in close consultation with and supervision by relevant regulators, the companies said in a joint statement.

"We are creating an Indonesian e-commerce champion, combining Tokopedia's strong local presence with TikTok's mass market reach and technological prowess," GoTo CEO Patrick Walujo said in a statement.

"GoTo now sits on a much stronger foundation and we expect this partnership to bring many benefits not just for e-commerce, but for our on-demand services and fintech businesses as well," he said.

GoTo's businesses include ride-hailing, delivery and financial services.

Under the deal, TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, will buy 75.01% of Tokopedia and inject TikTok Shop's Indonesia business into the enlarged Tokopedia entity.

Officials at Indonesia's trade ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Many of Indonesia's more than 270 million people are active social media users and TikTok has been looking to translate its 125 million user base there into a significant source of e-commerce revenue.

TikTok Shop is currently available in only a few countries including the United States, Britain and Singapore, according to its website.

The deal will be concluded by the first quarter of 2024 and Tokopedia will receive a $1 billion promissory note from TikTok that can be used to fund working capital needs, the companies said.

Tokopedia competes with Shopee owned by Singapore-headquartered Sea and Lazada owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

It saw half-year gross revenue climb 14% to 4.5 trillion rupiah ($288 million) in August while its underlying loss narrowed sharply to 752 billion rupiah from 3.7 trillion rupiah a year ago.

Shares in GoTo, however, tumbled 13% on Monday - their biggest percentage decline in six months - as some investors took profits after the stock had rallied on expectations of a deal with TikTok.

Indonesia's e-commerce industry is set to expand to be worth about $160 billion by 2030 from $62 billion this year, according to a report by Google, Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings and consultancy Bain &amp; Co.

China's TikTok has agreed to spend $840 million to buy most of Indonesian tech conglomerate GoTo's e-commerce unit – a move that appears to allow it to restart its online shopping business in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

China's TikTok has agreed to spend $840 million to buy most of Indonesian tech conglomerate GoTo's e-commerce unit – a move that appears to allow it to restart its online shopping business in Southeast Asia's largest economy. It also said it will invest further in the business, Tokopedia, which is Indonesia's biggest e-commerce platform, for a total outlay of $1.5 billion. TikTok had been forced to close its relatively new e-commerce service, TikTok Shop, in Indonesia after the country banned online shopping on social media platforms in September, citing the need to protect smaller merchants and users' data. The new partnership will commence with a pilot period carried out in close consultation with and supervision by relevant regulators, the companies said in a joint statement. "We are creating an Indonesian e-commerce champion, combining Tokopedia's strong local presence with TikTok's mass market reach and technological prowess," GoTo CEO Patrick Walujo said in a statement. "GoTo now sits on a much stronger foundation and we expect this partnership to bring many benefits not just for e-commerce, but for our on-demand services and fintech businesses as well," he said. GoTo's businesses include ride-hailing, delivery and financial services. Under the deal, TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, will buy 75.01% of Tokopedia and inject TikTok Shop's Indonesia business into the enlarged Tokopedia entity. Officials at Indonesia's trade ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Many of Indonesia's more than 270 million people are active social media users and TikTok has been looking to translate its 125 million user base there into a significant source of e-commerce revenue. TikTok Shop is currently available in only a few countries including the United States, Britain and Singapore, according to its website. The deal will be concluded by the first quarter of 2024 and Tokopedia will receive a $1 billion promissory note from TikTok that can be used to fund working capital needs, the companies said. Tokopedia competes with Shopee owned by Singapore-headquartered Sea and Lazada owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. It saw half-year gross revenue climb 14% to 4.5 trillion rupiah ($288 million) in August while its underlying loss narrowed sharply to 752 billion rupiah from 3.7 trillion rupiah a year ago. Shares in GoTo, however, tumbled 13% on Monday - their biggest percentage decline in six months - as some investors took profits after the stock had rallied on expectations of a deal with TikTok. Indonesia's e-commerce industry is set to expand to be worth about $160 billion by 2030 from $62 billion this year, according to a report by Google, Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings and consultancy Bain & Co.

TikTok set to restart e-commerce in Indonesia with $1.5 billion Tokopedia investment

In a testament to their global influence, BTS, the seven-member South Korean powerhouse, has claimed yet another milestone in the digital realm. Surging past prominent Hollywood stars, the boy band emerged as the most viewed male act on TikTok for the year 2023.&nbsp;

Even during their temporary group hiatus due to military enlistments, the group has maintained its fervent presence in the music scene.

Moreover, amid the hiatus, the BTS members have largely focussed on their&nbsp;individual pursuits, however, that has not affected&nbsp;the group's popularity among its fans.

This annual evaluation by TikTok provided a panoramic view of the platform's trends, revealing Mexico's Kim Loaiza as the top-viewed artist in 2023. Among global sensations, American pop icon Selena Gomez followed suit, with BTS and BLACKPINK solidifying their positions as global favourites.

Check out the top 10 list below:

Kim Loaiza 
Selena Gomez 
BLACKPINK 
BTS 
Feid 
ENHYPEN 
KAROL G 
LE SSERAFIM 
NewJeans 
Shakira

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/yearender-2023-the-fabulous-year-that-taylor-swift-has-had-667924">Yearender 2023: The fabulous year that Taylor Swift has had</a>

However, the data from the US indicates that Selena Gomez,&nbsp;Natalie Jane, Ice Spice, Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus were the most viewed artists of the year in 2023.

Take a look at the full list below:

Selena Gomez 
Natalie Jane 
Ice Spice 
Meghan Trainor 
Ariana Grande 
Miley Cyrus 
Cardi B 
NLE Choppa 
Lil Mabu 
Lizzo

In a testament to their global influence, BTS, the seven-member South Korean powerhouse, has claimed yet another milestone in the digital realm. Surging past prominent Hollywood stars, the boy band emerged as the most viewed male act on TikTok for the year 2023.

In a testament to their global influence, BTS, the seven-member South Korean powerhouse, has claimed yet another milestone in the digital realm. Surging past prominent Hollywood stars, the boy band emerged as the most viewed male act on TikTok for the year 2023. Even during their temporary group hiatus due to military enlistments, the group has maintained its fervent presence in the music scene. Moreover, amid the hiatus, the BTS members have largely focussed on their individual pursuits, however, that has not affected the group's popularity among its fans. This annual evaluation by TikTok provided a panoramic view of the platform's trends, revealing Mexico's Kim Loaiza as the top-viewed artist in 2023. Among global sensations, American pop icon Selena Gomez followed suit, with BTS and BLACKPINK solidifying their positions as global favourites. Check out the top 10 list below: Kim Loaiza Selena Gomez BLACKPINK BTS Feid ENHYPEN KAROL G LE SSERAFIM NewJeans Shakira Also read: Yearender 2023: The fabulous year that Taylor Swift has had However, the data from the US indicates that Selena Gomez, Natalie Jane, Ice Spice, Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus were the most viewed artists of the year in 2023. Take a look at the full list below: Selena Gomez Natalie Jane Ice Spice Meghan Trainor Ariana Grande Miley Cyrus Cardi B NLE Choppa Lil Mabu Lizzo

BTS and BLACKPINK rule TikTok's global viewership 2023 chart

A US federal judge has blocked the ban issued on short-video sharing app TikTok by the state of Montana. The ban was to come into effect from January 1 but District Judge Donald Molloy issued the block, saying it violated the free speech right of users.&nbsp;

In May, earlier this year, Montana's Republican-dominated legislature became the first state in the US to pass a complete ban on the app. The state argued that the Chinese government could gain access to user information from TikTok whose parent company ByteDance is based out of Beijing.&nbsp;

However, Judge Molloy&nbsp;said the ban “oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses". He previously observed that&nbsp;TikTok users voluntarily provide their personal data, despite state officials suggesting the app was stealing it from the users.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Christian Corrigan, the state’s solicitor general, argued that the ban was less a statement of foreign policy and instead addressed the "serious, widespread concerns" about data privacy.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;TikTok users file lawsuit to block Montana ban&nbsp;

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<h2>TikTok goes to court&nbsp;</h2>

Notably, soon after Montana&nbsp;Governor Greg Gianforte signed the legislation, affirming the ban,&nbsp;TikTok sued the state.&nbsp;

"We are challenging Montana’s unconstitutional TikTok ban to protect our business and the hundreds of thousands of TikTok users in Montana," the company said in the court filing.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/montana-becomes-first-us-state-to-ban-tiktok-free-speech-supporters-call-move-unconstitutional-593492">Also read |&nbsp;Montana becomes first US state to ban TikTok, free speech supporters call move 'unconstitutional'</a>

If the law was implemented, come New Year's, the state of Montana was looking to&nbsp;impose fines of $10,000 for each violation by TikTok and additional fines of $10,000 per day if it violates the ban.

<h2>TikTok's growing popularity</h2>

TikTok, which has over 150 million American users,&nbsp;has grown&nbsp;quite popular among teenagers.&nbsp;According to the Pew Research Centre, 67 per cent&nbsp;of 13&nbsp;to 17-year-olds in the United States use TikTok, while 16 per cent&nbsp;of all adolescents use the app fairly daily. TikTok claims that the "vast majority" of its users are over the age of 18.

However, owing to the Chinese connection, the app has become the target&nbsp;of politicians and state authorities, particularly in the US. Montana was being seen as the ideal laboratory to experiment how far the legislators could reach, to ban the app.&nbsp;

But with the federal court putting its foot down and blocking the ban, other Republican states that were eyeing similar legislation would have to hold their horses.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A US federal judge has blocked the ban issued on short-video sharing app TikTok by the state of Montana. The ban was to come into effect from January 1 but District Judge Donald Molloy issued the block, saying it violated the free speech right of users.

A US federal judge has blocked the ban issued on short-video sharing app TikTok by the state of Montana. The ban was to come into effect from January 1 but District Judge Donald Molloy issued the block, saying it violated the free speech right of users. In May, earlier this year, Montana's Republican-dominated legislature became the first state in the US to pass a complete ban on the app. The state argued that the Chinese government could gain access to user information from TikTok whose parent company ByteDance is based out of Beijing. However, Judge Molloy said the ban “oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses". He previously observed that TikTok users voluntarily provide their personal data, despite state officials suggesting the app was stealing it from the users. Meanwhile, Christian Corrigan, the state’s solicitor general, argued that the ban was less a statement of foreign policy and instead addressed the "serious, widespread concerns" about data privacy. WATCH | TikTok users file lawsuit to block Montana ban TikTok goes to court Notably, soon after Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed the legislation, affirming the ban, TikTok sued the state. "We are challenging Montana’s unconstitutional TikTok ban to protect our business and the hundreds of thousands of TikTok users in Montana," the company said in the court filing. Also read | Montana becomes first US state to ban TikTok, free speech supporters call move 'unconstitutional' If the law was implemented, come New Year's, the state of Montana was looking to impose fines of $10,000 for each violation by TikTok and additional fines of $10,000 per day if it violates the ban. TikTok's growing popularity TikTok, which has over 150 million American users, has grown quite popular among teenagers. According to the Pew Research Centre, 67 per cent of 13 to 17-year-olds in the United States use TikTok, while 16 per cent of all adolescents use the app fairly daily. TikTok claims that the "vast majority" of its users are over the age of 18. However, owing to the Chinese connection, the app has become the target of politicians and state authorities, particularly in the US. Montana was being seen as the ideal laboratory to experiment how far the legislators could reach, to ban the app. But with the federal court putting its foot down and blocking the ban, other Republican states that were eyeing similar legislation would have to hold their horses. (With inputs from agencies)

US: Federal judge blocks Montana's TikTok ban, calls it unconstitutional

He is a retired general best known for his past brutalities, a TikTok sensation and a presidential hopeful: Meet Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto, who has embarked on a journey to replace Joko Widodo in next year’s elections.

Using social media, Prabowo has done a terrific job at transforming his image from a brutal oppressor to ‘a cute dancing grandpa’, reported the Times.&nbsp;

According to recent polls, he is way ahead of the other two rivals. Thanks to his extremely successful social media campaign, the young population in the world’s fourth most populated country seems to be in awe of his charisma.

<h2>Prabowo’s stained past</h2>

In the 1990s, Prabowo, a General in the Indonesian Special Forces, orchestrated a brutal regime in East Timor, involving the killing and torture of independence fighters.&nbsp;

As a son-in-law of Suharto, he defended the dictator by abducting human rights activists. Due to this record, Prabowo faced entry bans in various countries, including the US and Australia, although these bans have since been lifted.

Watch:&nbsp;Indonesia: Presidential candidates gear up for 2024 polls; 205 mn eligible to vote | Race to Power

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In his 2019 presidential campaign, Prabowo sought support from hard-line Muslim groups, opposing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's reelection. This strategy fueled a divisive election, leading to post-election riots in Jakarta, resulting in at least eight deaths and hundreds of injuries in clashes with the police.

<h2>Equations changed now</h2>

But in the February 2024 elections, equations have changed where Prabowo is currently serving as Joko Widodo’s defence minister.

Jokowi’s embrace of Prabowo took many by surprise; however, the unlikely alliance grew out of the president’s intention to secure his government in the second term.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/green-drive-accelerates-us-and-indonesia-forge-path-to-vital-ev-minerals-partnership-657978">Also read:&nbsp;Green Drive Accelerates: US and Indonesia forge path to vital EV minerals partnership</a>

It is to be noted that while Prabowo is running for elections next year, his running mate is Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of President Joko.

<h2>Joko betrays his party?</h2>

Joko and Prabowo hail from two different parties and the president is now being accused of supporting the presidential candidate of his rival Gerindra (Great Indonesia Movement) Party.

Joko hails from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which has fielded Ganjar Pranowo, 55, as its candidate in the polls. Ganjar is lagging in second place, behind Gerindra’s candidate Prabowo.

The third candidate is Anies Baswedan, 54, the former governor of Jakarta, who draws support from conservative Muslim voters.

(With inputs from agencies)

He is a retired general best known for his past brutalities, a TikTok sensation and a presidential hopeful: Meet Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto, who has embarked on a journey to replace Joko Widodo in next year’s elections.

He is a retired general best known for his past brutalities, a TikTok sensation and a presidential hopeful: Meet Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto, who has embarked on a journey to replace Joko Widodo in next year’s elections. Using social media, Prabowo has done a terrific job at transforming his image from a brutal oppressor to ‘a cute dancing grandpa’, reported the Times. According to recent polls, he is way ahead of the other two rivals. Thanks to his extremely successful social media campaign, the young population in the world’s fourth most populated country seems to be in awe of his charisma. Prabowo’s stained past In the 1990s, Prabowo, a General in the Indonesian Special Forces, orchestrated a brutal regime in East Timor, involving the killing and torture of independence fighters. As a son-in-law of Suharto, he defended the dictator by abducting human rights activists. Due to this record, Prabowo faced entry bans in various countries, including the US and Australia, although these bans have since been lifted. Watch: Indonesia: Presidential candidates gear up for 2024 polls; 205 mn eligible to vote | Race to Power × In his 2019 presidential campaign, Prabowo sought support from hard-line Muslim groups, opposing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's reelection. This strategy fueled a divisive election, leading to post-election riots in Jakarta, resulting in at least eight deaths and hundreds of injuries in clashes with the police. Equations changed now But in the February 2024 elections, equations have changed where Prabowo is currently serving as Joko Widodo’s defence minister. Jokowi’s embrace of Prabowo took many by surprise; however, the unlikely alliance grew out of the president’s intention to secure his government in the second term. Also read: Green Drive Accelerates: US and Indonesia forge path to vital EV minerals partnership It is to be noted that while Prabowo is running for elections next year, his running mate is Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the son of President Joko. Joko betrays his party? Joko and Prabowo hail from two different parties and the president is now being accused of supporting the presidential candidate of his rival Gerindra (Great Indonesia Movement) Party. Joko hails from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, which has fielded Ganjar Pranowo, 55, as its candidate in the polls. Ganjar is lagging in second place, behind Gerindra’s candidate Prabowo. The third candidate is Anies Baswedan, 54, the former governor of Jakarta, who draws support from conservative Muslim voters. (With inputs from agencies)

Brutal General-turned-TikTok star Prabowo Subianto sets eyes on Indonesian presidency

Nepali TikTok creator Manjita Manandhar was caught off guard when the Himalayan nation&nbsp;banned the popular social media platform last week for disturbing "social harmony and goodwill".

"I was shocked as the decision came suddenly," said Manandhar, who earns about $1,500 a month by making content for restaurants, hotels and brands, and posting them on the&nbsp;app.

"Business has halved since the&nbsp;ban&nbsp;and the income from other social platforms like Instagram and YouTube is not enough to support this loss," she said. The 26-year-old splits her income with a videographer and a manager, who oversees communication with clients.

Nepal's&nbsp;centre-left coalition&nbsp;government&nbsp;is the latest to&nbsp;ban&nbsp;the&nbsp;app. TikTok is owned by China-based ByteDance, and several countries have raised concerns over its proximity to the Chinese&nbsp;government&nbsp;and hold over user data across the world.

Neighbour India&nbsp;banned TikTok along with dozens of other&nbsp;apps by Chinese developers in June 2020, saying that they could compromise national security and integrity.

Many Nepalis, however, said the&nbsp;ban&nbsp;has cut off a source of income and shut down a forum for free speech.

Dozens of people held&nbsp;protests&nbsp;in Kathmandu demanding the&nbsp;government&nbsp;revoke the&nbsp;ban, while others filed petitions against it at the Supreme&nbsp;Court. The&nbsp;court&nbsp;has asked the&nbsp;government&nbsp;to provide, in writing, its reasons for the&nbsp;ban&nbsp;before a Dec. 5 hearing.

Rajib Subba, an expert on cyber security, said the&nbsp;ban&nbsp;had affected many people for whom the&nbsp;app&nbsp;was "a social medium of livelihood, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and advocacy". There are about 2.2 million TikTok users in Nepal, said Sudhir Parajuli, president of the Internet Service Providers' Association of Nepal (ISPAN).

In a letter to&nbsp;Nepal's&nbsp;telecom regulator, TikTok said it routinely addresses "content and behaviour" that violate its community guidelines. It did not provide any details.

More than 1,600 cyber crime cases, most of them related to TikTok, have been registered over the last four years in Nepal, according to local media reports.

Nepali housewife Sushila Pokharel, a regular user of the platform who posts videos of her dancing and singing, said the&nbsp;ban&nbsp;deprives people of a source of recreation.

"Stop anything bad in it, but it is wrong to&nbsp;ban&nbsp;the&nbsp;app&nbsp;completely," she said.

Nepali TikTok creator Manjita Manandhar was caught off guard when the Himalayan nation banned the popular social media platform last week for disturbing "social harmony and goodwill".

Nepali TikTok creator Manjita Manandhar was caught off guard when the Himalayan nation banned the popular social media platform last week for disturbing "social harmony and goodwill". "I was shocked as the decision came suddenly," said Manandhar, who earns about $1,500 a month by making content for restaurants, hotels and brands, and posting them on the app. "Business has halved since the ban and the income from other social platforms like Instagram and YouTube is not enough to support this loss," she said. The 26-year-old splits her income with a videographer and a manager, who oversees communication with clients. Nepal's centre-left coalition government is the latest to ban the app. TikTok is owned by China-based ByteDance, and several countries have raised concerns over its proximity to the Chinese government and hold over user data across the world. Neighbour India banned TikTok along with dozens of other apps by Chinese developers in June 2020, saying that they could compromise national security and integrity. Many Nepalis, however, said the ban has cut off a source of income and shut down a forum for free speech. Dozens of people held protests in Kathmandu demanding the government revoke the ban, while others filed petitions against it at the Supreme Court. The court has asked the government to provide, in writing, its reasons for the ban before a Dec. 5 hearing. Rajib Subba, an expert on cyber security, said the ban had affected many people for whom the app was "a social medium of livelihood, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and advocacy". There are about 2.2 million TikTok users in Nepal, said Sudhir Parajuli, president of the Internet Service Providers' Association of Nepal (ISPAN). In a letter to Nepal's telecom regulator, TikTok said it routinely addresses "content and behaviour" that violate its community guidelines. It did not provide any details. More than 1,600 cyber crime cases, most of them related to TikTok, have been registered over the last four years in Nepal, according to local media reports. Nepali housewife Sushila Pokharel, a regular user of the platform who posts videos of her dancing and singing, said the ban deprives people of a source of recreation. "Stop anything bad in it, but it is wrong to ban the app completely," she said.

Protests, court appeals as Nepal's TikTokers decry government ban on app

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released mugshots of four teenagers Monday (Nov 20), accused of murdering fellow student Jonathan Lewis.

In total, eight juveniles have been arrested and they will be tried as adults.

Images of Dontral Beaver, 16; Gianni Robinson, 17; Damien Hernandez, 17; and Treavion Randolph, 16 – were released as they appeared in court late last week.&nbsp;

The other four, also aged 13-17, will remain in juvenile court as they await their transfer to adult court.

<h2>What’s the case?</h2>

All eight individuals are accused of brutally beating up their 17-year-old fellow Jonathan Lewis near Rancho High School on November 1.

The fight erupted after Lewis tried to stand up for a younger friend who had been allegedly robbed by the gang.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: US green card backlog hits 1.8 million | Indians face waiting period of 134 years

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The fight was filmed and widely shared on social media, including TikTok.

Now, a hearing will take place on November 21 where discussions regarding the bail will take place, said attorney of Treavion Randolph, Daniel Martinez, to a local news outlet.

<h2>Randolph’s family maintains innocence&nbsp;</h2>

Randolph’s family was quoted by Daily Mail as saying that the viral video of the beating doesn’t show him.

“I've seen that video. I've watched it all. You can't see Treavion on there,” Randolph’s uncle said.&nbsp;

“They say they identified him from that video, but we don't know for sure. We haven't been told much. We don't know a lot about the whole thing,” he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-india-relations-may-get-worse-us-amb-to-india-warns-state-department-report-642846">Also read:&nbsp;‘US-India relations may get worse’ over Canada, US envoy to India warned State Department: Report</a>

Except for Damien Hernandez, none of the eight accused has any past criminal record. In 2021, Hernandez received a citation for smoking marijuana in public.

Lt. Jason Johansson of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said all the people involved — believed to be 10 — were students of Rancho High School.

<h2>Victim’s family sets up anti-bullying fund</h2>

Meanwhile, Jonathan Lewis’s family has set up an anti-bullying foundation in his memory.&nbsp;

The foundation, Team Jonathan, has reportedly partnered with other anti-bullying campaigns including Choose Love and Dads in Schools.

(With inputs from agencies)

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released mugshots of four teenagers Monday (Nov 20), accused of murdering fellow student Jonathan Lewis. In total, eight juveniles have been arrested and they will be tried as adults.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released mugshots of four teenagers Monday (Nov 20), accused of murdering fellow student Jonathan Lewis. In total, eight juveniles have been arrested and they will be tried as adults. Images of Dontral Beaver, 16; Gianni Robinson, 17; Damien Hernandez, 17; and Treavion Randolph, 16 – were released as they appeared in court late last week. The other four, also aged 13-17, will remain in juvenile court as they await their transfer to adult court. What’s the case? All eight individuals are accused of brutally beating up their 17-year-old fellow Jonathan Lewis near Rancho High School on November 1. The fight erupted after Lewis tried to stand up for a younger friend who had been allegedly robbed by the gang. Watch: Gravitas: US green card backlog hits 1.8 million | Indians face waiting period of 134 years × The fight was filmed and widely shared on social media, including TikTok. Now, a hearing will take place on November 21 where discussions regarding the bail will take place, said attorney of Treavion Randolph, Daniel Martinez, to a local news outlet. Randolph’s family maintains innocence Randolph’s family was quoted by Daily Mail as saying that the viral video of the beating doesn’t show him. “I've seen that video. I've watched it all. You can't see Treavion on there,” Randolph’s uncle said. “They say they identified him from that video, but we don't know for sure. We haven't been told much. We don't know a lot about the whole thing,” he added. Also read: ‘US-India relations may get worse’ over Canada, US envoy to India warned State Department: Report Except for Damien Hernandez, none of the eight accused has any past criminal record. In 2021, Hernandez received a citation for smoking marijuana in public. Lt. Jason Johansson of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said all the people involved — believed to be 10 — were students of Rancho High School. Victim’s family sets up anti-bullying fund Meanwhile, Jonathan Lewis’s family has set up an anti-bullying foundation in his memory. The foundation, Team Jonathan, has reportedly partnered with other anti-bullying campaigns including Choose Love and Dads in Schools. (With inputs from agencies)

Jonathan Lewis’ murder over bullying: Mugshots of four accused released by police

One may assume that big companies making millions of dollars default on standard practices. Watch our report to know more.

Tech companies Google, Meta & Apple do not pay fine for years; Amazon & TikTok have pending appeals

After some users uploaded a decades-old letter written by former Al Qaida head Osama bin Laden to TikTok and then shared it again on X (previously Twitter), the post has gone viral. After bin Laden's 2002 'Letter to America' ignited a debate regarding US backing for Israel in its current conflict with Hamas, TikTok removed the hashtag #lettertoamerica (which had over two million views) from its search results, according to NBC News. The White House has criticized certain social media users for suggesting that the Al Qaeda founder's document provides an alternate viewpoint of US engagement in Middle Eastern conflicts.

TikTok takes down videos promoting Bin Laden ‘letter to America’

Osama Bin Laden's letter trends on TikTok, sparking controversy

The percentage of TikTok users who regularly access news via the app rose to 43% in 2023 from 22% a year earlier, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center, which found half of U.S. adults get at least some news from social media.

TikTok emerging as a popular source of news

The Hilton hotel chain is breaking from conventional hiring practices by urging jobseekers to submit TikTok videos instead of traditional resumes.

The company shared a video on its TikTok account, @hiremehiltonau, outlining the "recruitment process at Hilton" and encouraging applicants to showcase their suitability in a one-minute video, reported the Guardian.

In a 34-second video, Hilton advises potential employees to identify roles of interest and submit a brief video showcasing how they would add to the experience for Hilton guests.

The video tells users to make videos on TikTok, tagging Hilton, and using the hashtag #hiremehilton.

However, Hilton reassures those not on TikTok that traditional written CVs are still accepted through its website.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-decides-to-ban-tiktok-citing-negative-effects-on-social-harmony-658060">Also read |&nbsp;Nepal decides to ban TikTok citing negative effects on social harmony</a>

<h2>Luring Gen Z workers?</h2>

Mary Hogg, Hilton Australasia's regional human resources director, explained that the TikTok pilot aims to attract Gen Z workers.&nbsp;

“When you need somebody who’s going to have really good interpersonal skills, to be able to handle guest relationships or any of that side of things, you’ve got no idea [if they can do that] from the paper side,” she told the Guardian.

Tom Earls, a partner at Fair Work Lawyers, noted that legally, there is nothing preventing an employer from requesting TikToks as part of the job application process.

Also watch |&nbsp;Nepal govt bans TikTok, launches probe into Chinese project

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-govt-bans-tiktok-launches-probe-into-chinese-project-658133/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, he stressed the need for employers to ensure that such requirements do not unreasonably impact applicants, potentially leading to age discrimination or other ethical concerns.

In 2021, TikTok initiated a similar programme, #TikTokResumes, encouraging applicants to showcase their skills through videos resembling a "personal essay" with looped-in audio.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Hilton hotel chain is breaking from conventional hiring practices by urging jobseekers to submit TikTok videos instead of traditional resumes. The company shared a video on its TikTok account, @hiremehiltonau, outlining the "recruitment process at Hilton" and encouraging applicants to showcase their suitability in a one-minute video, reported the Guardian.

The Hilton hotel chain is breaking from conventional hiring practices by urging jobseekers to submit TikTok videos instead of traditional resumes. The company shared a video on its TikTok account, @hiremehiltonau, outlining the "recruitment process at Hilton" and encouraging applicants to showcase their suitability in a one-minute video, reported the Guardian. In a 34-second video, Hilton advises potential employees to identify roles of interest and submit a brief video showcasing how they would add to the experience for Hilton guests. The video tells users to make videos on TikTok, tagging Hilton, and using the hashtag #hiremehilton. However, Hilton reassures those not on TikTok that traditional written CVs are still accepted through its website. Also read | Nepal decides to ban TikTok citing negative effects on social harmony Luring Gen Z workers? Mary Hogg, Hilton Australasia's regional human resources director, explained that the TikTok pilot aims to attract Gen Z workers. “When you need somebody who’s going to have really good interpersonal skills, to be able to handle guest relationships or any of that side of things, you’ve got no idea [if they can do that] from the paper side,” she told the Guardian. Tom Earls, a partner at Fair Work Lawyers, noted that legally, there is nothing preventing an employer from requesting TikToks as part of the job application process. Also watch | Nepal govt bans TikTok, launches probe into Chinese project However, he stressed the need for employers to ensure that such requirements do not unreasonably impact applicants, potentially leading to age discrimination or other ethical concerns. In 2021, TikTok initiated a similar programme, #TikTokResumes, encouraging applicants to showcase their skills through videos resembling a "personal essay" with looped-in audio. (With inputs from agencies)

Hilton hires with a twist, asks job seekers to send TikTok videos instead of traditional resumes

Nepal has decided to ban the Chinese short-form video app TikTok citing its negative effects on social harmony, local media reported on Monday (Nov 13). According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, the government said that a large section of the society criticised TikTok for encouraging a tendency of hate speech. It is not yet known when the ban will be implemented.&nbsp;

The report said that in the last four years, over 1,600 cases of cybercrime were reported on the app. The decision to ban TikTok comes days after the government introduced the "Directives on the Operation of Social Networking 2023."

This law states that social media platforms operating in Nepal including Facebook, X and YouTube are required to set up their offices in the country. Earlier, an increasing number of citizens complained the absence of social media companies' representatives in the country as it made it difficult for authorities to address their concerns and even remove objectional content from such platforms.

The law adds that the social media companies will either establish their office in Nepal or appoint a focal person within three months of enforcement of the directives, as per the report.

The platforms will have to be registered with the country's information and communication technology ministry. A failure of registration can lead to a shutdown of such platforms.

Nepal has decided to ban the Chinese short-form video app TikTok citing its negative effects on social harmony, local media reported on Monday (Nov 13). According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, the government said that a large section of the society criticised TikTok for encouraging a tendency of hate speech.

Nepal has decided to ban the Chinese short-form video app TikTok citing its negative effects on social harmony, local media reported on Monday (Nov 13). According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, the government said that a large section of the society criticised TikTok for encouraging a tendency of hate speech. It is not yet known when the ban will be implemented. The report said that in the last four years, over 1,600 cases of cybercrime were reported on the app. The decision to ban TikTok comes days after the government introduced the "Directives on the Operation of Social Networking 2023." This law states that social media platforms operating in Nepal including Facebook, X and YouTube are required to set up their offices in the country. Earlier, an increasing number of citizens complained the absence of social media companies' representatives in the country as it made it difficult for authorities to address their concerns and even remove objectional content from such platforms. The law adds that the social media companies will either establish their office in Nepal or appoint a focal person within three months of enforcement of the directives, as per the report. The platforms will have to be registered with the country's information and communication technology ministry. A failure of registration can lead to a shutdown of such platforms.

Nepal decides to ban TikTok citing negative effects on social harmony

Malaysia's communications regulator is set to issue a warning to tech giant Meta and popular short-form video hosting service TikTok over allegedly restricting content supporting the Palestinians on their respective platforms, its communications minister said on Thursday (Oct 26). 
 
Fahmi Fadzil took to his official X account and said that he would take a very firm approach if the social media firms fail to address this concern.

"If this issue is ignored, I will not hesitate to take a very firm approach and stance," the minister said in a post.

Fahmi further said that many parties had called on the government to take stern measures against social media platforms for allegedly blocking pro-Palestinian content.

"Our policies are designed to keep people safe on our apps while giving everyone a voice," the spokesperson said on Thursday as per news agency Reuters.

Fahmi said that his country had a right to freedom of speech regarding the Palestinian cause, further reiterating that the right would not be taken away.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-netanyahu-helped-grow-hamas-which-became-the-frankensteins-monster-for-him-651336">Explained | How Netanyahu helped turn Hamas into his Frankenstein's monster</a>

He said that next week he will meet TikTok representatives to discuss the matter.

Fahmi said that the Malaysian government raised the concerns two weeks after TikTok had not complied fully with its laws and had not done enough to restrain slanderous or deceitful content.&nbsp;

TikTok released a statement saying that it would take proactive measures to address the issues that were raised by Malaysian authorities.

Earlier, the European Union had announced probes into tech giants Meta and TikTok, seeking more details on measures they have taken to halt the dissemination of "illegal content and disinformation" following Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel.

The European Commission said it had sent formal requests for information to Meta and TikTok respectively.

The commission said that the request to Meta was related "to the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation" around the Hamas-Israel conflict.

It released a separate statement saying that it wanted to know the measures taken by short-form video hosting service TikTok against "the spreading of terrorist and violent content and hate speech".

(With inputs from agencies) 
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Malaysia's communications regulator is set to issue a warning to tech giant Meta and popular short-form video hosting service TikTok over allegedly restricting content supporting the Palestinians on their respective platforms, its communications minister said on Thursday (Oct 26).

Malaysia's communications regulator is set to issue a warning to tech giant Meta and popular short-form video hosting service TikTok over allegedly restricting content supporting the Palestinians on their respective platforms, its communications minister said on Thursday (Oct 26). Fahmi Fadzil took to his official X account and said that he would take a very firm approach if the social media firms fail to address this concern. "If this issue is ignored, I will not hesitate to take a very firm approach and stance," the minister said in a post. Fahmi further said that many parties had called on the government to take stern measures against social media platforms for allegedly blocking pro-Palestinian content. "Our policies are designed to keep people safe on our apps while giving everyone a voice," the spokesperson said on Thursday as per news agency Reuters. Fahmi said that his country had a right to freedom of speech regarding the Palestinian cause, further reiterating that the right would not be taken away. Also read: Explained | How Netanyahu helped turn Hamas into his Frankenstein's monster He said that next week he will meet TikTok representatives to discuss the matter. Fahmi said that the Malaysian government raised the concerns two weeks after TikTok had not complied fully with its laws and had not done enough to restrain slanderous or deceitful content. TikTok released a statement saying that it would take proactive measures to address the issues that were raised by Malaysian authorities. Earlier, the European Union had announced probes into tech giants Meta and TikTok, seeking more details on measures they have taken to halt the dissemination of "illegal content and disinformation" following Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel. The European Commission said it had sent formal requests for information to Meta and TikTok respectively. The commission said that the request to Meta was related "to the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation" around the Hamas-Israel conflict. It released a separate statement saying that it wanted to know the measures taken by short-form video hosting service TikTok against "the spreading of terrorist and violent content and hate speech". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Malaysia warns Meta, TikTok over allegedly restricting content supporting Palestinians

The European Union, on Thursday (Oct 19), announced probes into tech giants Meta and TikTok, seeking more details on measures they have taken to halt the dissemination of "illegal content and disinformation" following Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel.

The European Commission said it had sent formal requests for information to Meta and TikTok respectively.

Earlier, the EU had launched a similar probe into Elon Musk's social media platform X.

The commission said that the request to Meta was related "to the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation" around the Hamas-Israel conflict.

It released a separate statement saying that it wanted to know the measures taken by short-form video hosting service TikTok against "the spreading of terrorist and violent content and hate speech".

The EU's executive arm added that it wanted more information from Meta on its "mitigation measures to protect the integrity of elections".&nbsp;

Both Meta and TikTok have until October 25 to answer, with a deadline of Nov 8 for less critical factors of the ultimatum for information.

The commission further said that it also sought more details about how TikTok was conceding with rules on safeguarding minors online. Meta pressed that it was handling the issues inflated.

"Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact-checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation," a Meta spokesman said.

He added that Meta would be happy to provide further information to the commission.

TikTok said that it was reviewing Brussels' request and would publish a report next week with "more information about our ongoing work to keep our European community safe".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/siege-from-every-side-iranian-state-tv-shows-how-multi-front-attack-against-israel-can-unfold-648937">‘Siege from every side’: Iranian state TV shows how multi-front attack against Israel can unfold</a>

Last week, the company released a statement saying that it had "immediately mobilised significant resources and personnel to help maintain the safety of our community and integrity of our platform."

The ByteDance-owned company also said that it has removed 500,000 videos and closed 8,000 live streams in the region.

TikTok insisted that "it stands against terrorism," and that the company remains "focused on supporting free expression, upholding our commitment to human rights, and protecting our platform during the Israel-Hamas war".

"We are shocked and appalled by the horrific acts of terror in Israel last week."

"We are also deeply saddened by the intensifying humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Our hearts break for everyone who has been affected," added the popular video app.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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The European Union, on Thursday (Oct 19), announced probes into tech giants Meta and TikTok, seeking more details on measures they have taken to halt the dissemination of "illegal content and disinformation" following Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel.

The European Union, on Thursday (Oct 19), announced probes into tech giants Meta and TikTok, seeking more details on measures they have taken to halt the dissemination of "illegal content and disinformation" following Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel. The European Commission said it had sent formal requests for information to Meta and TikTok respectively. Earlier, the EU had launched a similar probe into Elon Musk's social media platform X. The commission said that the request to Meta was related "to the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation" around the Hamas-Israel conflict. It released a separate statement saying that it wanted to know the measures taken by short-form video hosting service TikTok against "the spreading of terrorist and violent content and hate speech". The EU's executive arm added that it wanted more information from Meta on its "mitigation measures to protect the integrity of elections". Both Meta and TikTok have until October 25 to answer, with a deadline of Nov 8 for less critical factors of the ultimatum for information. The commission further said that it also sought more details about how TikTok was conceding with rules on safeguarding minors online. Meta pressed that it was handling the issues inflated. "Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact-checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation," a Meta spokesman said. He added that Meta would be happy to provide further information to the commission. TikTok said that it was reviewing Brussels' request and would publish a report next week with "more information about our ongoing work to keep our European community safe". Also read: ‘Siege from every side’: Iranian state TV shows how multi-front attack against Israel can unfold Last week, the company released a statement saying that it had "immediately mobilised significant resources and personnel to help maintain the safety of our community and integrity of our platform." The ByteDance-owned company also said that it has removed 500,000 videos and closed 8,000 live streams in the region. TikTok insisted that "it stands against terrorism," and that the company remains "focused on supporting free expression, upholding our commitment to human rights, and protecting our platform during the Israel-Hamas war". "We are shocked and appalled by the horrific acts of terror in Israel last week." "We are also deeply saddened by the intensifying humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Our hearts break for everyone who has been affected," added the popular video app. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EU opens disinformation probes into Meta and TikTok amid Israel-Hamas conflict

TikTok says it has assigned more people to combat disinformation about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on the platform. This move by the popular short video format application comes after a warning by the European Union.

<h2>Mobilisation of 'significant resources'</h2>

In a statement, the company said, that&nbsp;it&nbsp;had "immediately mobilised significant resources and personnel to help maintain the safety of our community and integrity of our platform."

The ByteDance-owned company also said that it has removed 500,000 videos and closed 8,000 live streams in the region.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-warns-tiktok-to-tackle-spread-of-disinformation-amid-israel-hamas-conflict-646011">EU warns TikTok to tackle spread of disinformation amid Israel-Hamas conflict</a>

TikTok insisted that "it stands against terrorism," and&nbsp;that the company remains "focused on supporting free expression, upholding our commitment to human rights, and protecting our platform during the Israel-Hamas war".

"We are shocked and appalled by the horrific acts of terror in Israel last week."

"We are also deeply saddened by the intensifying humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Our hearts break for everyone who has been affected," added the popular video app.

<h2>Actions taken by TikTok</h2>

TikTok said that it has launched a command centre to monitor content about the latest conflict. The company, as per The Guardian, has also updated its automated detection systems to look for graphic and violent content.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-vs-hamas-iran-threatens-to-intervene-if-israel-doesnt-stops-attacking-gaza-says-report-647270">Israel vs Hamas: Iran threatens to intervene if Israel doesn’t stop attacking Gaza, says report</a>

It has also appointed a number of Arabic and Hebrew-speaking moderators, and has restricted live broadcasts due to the "heightened safety risk in the context of the current hostage situation."

<h2>EU warning</h2>

On Thursday (Oct 12) the European Union warned TikTok about the surge of disinformation and gave the social media platform a 24-hour ultimatum to provide details of the measures it will take to counter this spread of misinformation.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TikTok?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TikTok</a> has a particular obligation to protect children &amp; teenagers from violent content &amp; terrorist propaganda —as well as death challenges &amp; potentially life-threatening content.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DSA</a> sets out very clear obligations TikTok must comply with. 
 
Letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/J1tpVzXaYR">pic.twitter.com/J1tpVzXaYR</a>
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThierryBreton/status/1712472108222329056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"Given that your platform is extensively used by children and teenagers, you have a particular obligation to protect them from violent content depicting hostage-taking and other graphic videos which are reportedly widely circulating on your platform, without appropriate safeguards," EU's industry chief Thierry Breton said in a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.

(With inputs from agencies)

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TikTok says it has assigned more people to combat disinformation about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on the platform. This move by the popular short video format application comes after a warning by the European Union.

TikTok says it has assigned more people to combat disinformation about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on the platform. This move by the popular short video format application comes after a warning by the European Union. Mobilisation of 'significant resources' In a statement, the company said, that it had "immediately mobilised significant resources and personnel to help maintain the safety of our community and integrity of our platform." The ByteDance-owned company also said that it has removed 500,000 videos and closed 8,000 live streams in the region. Also read | EU warns TikTok to tackle spread of disinformation amid Israel-Hamas conflict TikTok insisted that "it stands against terrorism," and that the company remains "focused on supporting free expression, upholding our commitment to human rights, and protecting our platform during the Israel-Hamas war". "We are shocked and appalled by the horrific acts of terror in Israel last week." "We are also deeply saddened by the intensifying humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Our hearts break for everyone who has been affected," added the popular video app. Actions taken by TikTok TikTok said that it has launched a command centre to monitor content about the latest conflict. The company, as per The Guardian, has also updated its automated detection systems to look for graphic and violent content. Also read | Israel vs Hamas: Iran threatens to intervene if Israel doesn’t stop attacking Gaza, says report It has also appointed a number of Arabic and Hebrew-speaking moderators, and has restricted live broadcasts due to the "heightened safety risk in the context of the current hostage situation." EU warning On Thursday (Oct 12) the European Union warned TikTok about the surge of disinformation and gave the social media platform a 24-hour ultimatum to provide details of the measures it will take to counter this spread of misinformation. #TikTok has a particular obligation to protect children & teenagers from violent content & terrorist propaganda —as well as death challenges & potentially life-threatening content.#DSA sets out very clear obligations TikTok must comply with. Letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew⤵️ pic.twitter.com/J1tpVzXaYR — Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 12, 2023 × "Given that your platform is extensively used by children and teenagers, you have a particular obligation to protect them from violent content depicting hostage-taking and other graphic videos which are reportedly widely circulating on your platform, without appropriate safeguards," EU's industry chief Thierry Breton said in a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok 'stands against terrorism,' launches measures to control misinformation amid Israel-Hamas war

European Union industry chief Thierry Breton on Thursday (Oct 12)&nbsp;warned TikTok about a surge in disinformation on the video sharing platform and gave it an ultimatum of 24 hours to detail measures it will take to counter the spread after Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel.

Breton's warning in a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, followed a similar one he sent to X owner Elon Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this week.&nbsp;

"Given that your platform is extensively used by children and teenagers, you have a particular obligation to protect them from violent content depicting hostage-taking and other graphic videos which are reportedly widely circulating on your platform, without appropriate safeguards," he said in a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TikTok?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TikTok</a> has a particular obligation to protect children &amp; teenagers from violent content &amp; terrorist propaganda —as well as death challenges &amp; potentially life-threatening content.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DSA</a> sets out very clear obligations TikTok must comply with. 
 
Letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/J1tpVzXaYR">pic.twitter.com/J1tpVzXaYR</a>
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThierryBreton/status/1712472108222329056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Breton told Chew his request was urgent and required a response "within the next 24 hours".

Tech mogul Zuckerberg was also asked to respond within 24 hours with the measures his organisation will take to counter the dissemination of disinformation.

"I would ask you to be very vigilant to ensure strict compliance with the DSA rules on terms of service, on the requirement of timely, diligent and objective action following notices of illegal content in the EU, and on the need for proportionate and effective mitigation measures," Breton told Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a letter.

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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DSA</a> is here to protect free speech against arbitrary decisions, and at the same time protect our citizens &amp; democracies. 
 
My requests to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meta</a>’s Mark Zuckerberg following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel — and on tackling disinformation in elections in the EU ⤵️ <a href="https://t.co/RnetUriRJX">pic.twitter.com/RnetUriRJX</a>
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThierryBreton/status/1712126600873931150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/israel-vs-hamas-war-a-look-at-firepower-in-israeli-arsenal-645024">Israel vs Hamas war | A look at firepower in Israeli arsenal</a>

<h2>X removes hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts</h2>

X CEO Linda Yaccarino, on Thursday, said that the platform had removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and also took action against “tens of thousands of pieces of content”.

The move came a day after EU's top tech regulator's warning to X sparked an online duel between him and Musk where the SpaceX founder publicly asked the EU commissioner to "please list the violations you allude to on X", and said the platform's policy was that "everything was open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports".

To which Breton responded that it was up to Musk to "demonstrate that you walk the talk" and added that his team was standing by to "enforce rigorously" DSA compliance.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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European Union industry chief Thierry Breton on Thursday (Oct 12) warned TikTok about a surge in disinformation on the video sharing platform and gave it an ultimatum of 24 hours to detail measures it will take to counter the spread after Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel.

European Union industry chief Thierry Breton on Thursday (Oct 12) warned TikTok about a surge in disinformation on the video sharing platform and gave it an ultimatum of 24 hours to detail measures it will take to counter the spread after Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. Breton's warning in a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, followed a similar one he sent to X owner Elon Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this week. "Given that your platform is extensively used by children and teenagers, you have a particular obligation to protect them from violent content depicting hostage-taking and other graphic videos which are reportedly widely circulating on your platform, without appropriate safeguards," he said in a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. #TikTok has a particular obligation to protect children & teenagers from violent content & terrorist propaganda —as well as death challenges & potentially life-threatening content.#DSA sets out very clear obligations TikTok must comply with. Letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew⤵️ pic.twitter.com/J1tpVzXaYR — Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 12, 2023 × Breton told Chew his request was urgent and required a response "within the next 24 hours". Tech mogul Zuckerberg was also asked to respond within 24 hours with the measures his organisation will take to counter the dissemination of disinformation. "I would ask you to be very vigilant to ensure strict compliance with the DSA rules on terms of service, on the requirement of timely, diligent and objective action following notices of illegal content in the EU, and on the need for proportionate and effective mitigation measures," Breton told Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a letter. The #DSA is here to protect free speech against arbitrary decisions, and at the same time protect our citizens & democracies. My requests to #Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel — and on tackling disinformation in elections in the EU ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/RnetUriRJX — Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 11, 2023 × Also read: Israel vs Hamas war | A look at firepower in Israeli arsenal X removes hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts X CEO Linda Yaccarino, on Thursday, said that the platform had removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and also took action against “tens of thousands of pieces of content”. The move came a day after EU's top tech regulator's warning to X sparked an online duel between him and Musk where the SpaceX founder publicly asked the EU commissioner to "please list the violations you allude to on X", and said the platform's policy was that "everything was open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports". To which Breton responded that it was up to Musk to "demonstrate that you walk the talk" and added that his team was standing by to "enforce rigorously" DSA compliance. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EU warns TikTok to tackle spread of disinformation amid Israel-Hamas conflict

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flop attempt make&nbsp;a key announcement&nbsp;by using a video transition has transformed him into an unexpected meme sensation. In the original video, which was shared by the Conservative Party, Sunak unveiled a £20 million government grant for the improvement of Blyth's high street and investment in crime reduction, media reports said.&nbsp;

The town of Blyth is a vital player in the regional economy, and the investment programme will provide a significant opportunity for economic growth in Blyth and the surrounding areas. The grant was intended to assure northern voters that they were a top priority in the government's expenditure plans. The relief road will also alleviate congestion issues in the town and support its economic growth.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-raging-israel-hamas-war-indias-delhi-placed-on-security-alert-646205">Amid raging Israel-Hamas war, India's Delhi placed on security alert</a>

This effort came after the Prime Minister faced significant backlash for his recent decision to cancel the HS2 high-speed rail leg to Manchester.

<h2>Awkward video transition</h2>

The video started with Sunak saying, "If you live in or around Blyth, you're going to want to hear this," before delivering a rather unconventional palm slap to the camera and then reappearing soon after in unaltered settings and appearance to complete the announcement.

In the video, Sunak said, "If you live in or around Blyth, you're going to want to hear this," before delivering a rather unconventional palm slap to the camera for a moment and then taking his hand away from the camera, he added, "We're giving your town £20 million to improve things like the high street, safety, and community heritage."

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I can only assume Rishi Sunak’s digital communications team hate him. Didn’t even one of them explain to him that this isn’t how/when you use a ‘hand over camera’ transition? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HandOverCameraTransition?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HandOverCameraTransition</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RishiSunak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RishiSunak</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeneralElectionNow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GeneralElectionNow</a> <a href="https://t.co/8LNIEdCzF3">pic.twitter.com/8LNIEdCzF3</a>
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But the weird transition has set TikTok and other social media platforms ablaze as users jump into the saga to drop their reactions. TikTok users didn't waste a moment seizing on the awkward transition, turning it into a viral sensation with millions of views.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-israeli-commandoes-rescue-250-hostages-in-a-daring-operation-against-hamas-terrorists-646178">Watch | Israeli commandos rescue hostages in daring operation against Hamas</a>

Some users, pretending to be caught off guard in front of the camera, took the opportunity to shift the conversation away from Sunak's intended message to a range of other topics. Soon it was a full-blown transition away from politics and to a memedom.&nbsp;

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Rishi Sunak’s attempt at a video transition has made him viral on TikTok as people globally duet with him - here’s one from Iceland <a href="https://t.co/5F3B3zSv39">pic.twitter.com/5F3B3zSv39</a>
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) <a href="https://twitter.com/nazirafzal/status/1712367360026272218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Not a lot to make us smile currently but here’s Rishi Sunak not understanding how a transition in a video works<a href="https://t.co/P9moanGc2X">pic.twitter.com/P9moanGc2X</a>
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) <a href="https://twitter.com/nazirafzal/status/1711835019142988202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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What is interesting in this is that Sunak, who previously hinted at a potential ban on TiKToK, has now become a social media star on the same Chinese platform.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-palestine-war-israel-military-reclaims-base-from-hamas-strikes-intensifies-646221">Israel-Palestine war: Israel military reclaims base from Hamas, strikes intensifies</a>

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Sunak indicated that the contentious app could potentially be banned on all British government phones. “We take security of devices seriously,” he reportedly said regarding the possible ban on TikTok and added, “We look also at what our allies are doing. And we’re in the process of doing all of that.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flop attempt make a key announcement by using a video transition has transformed him into an unexpected meme sensation. In the original video, which was shared by the Conservative Party, Sunak unveiled a £20 million government grant for the improvement of Blyth's high street and investment in crime reduction, media reports said.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flop attempt make a key announcement by using a video transition has transformed him into an unexpected meme sensation. In the original video, which was shared by the Conservative Party, Sunak unveiled a £20 million government grant for the improvement of Blyth's high street and investment in crime reduction, media reports said. The town of Blyth is a vital player in the regional economy, and the investment programme will provide a significant opportunity for economic growth in Blyth and the surrounding areas. The grant was intended to assure northern voters that they were a top priority in the government's expenditure plans. The relief road will also alleviate congestion issues in the town and support its economic growth. Also Read | Amid raging Israel-Hamas war, India's Delhi placed on security alert This effort came after the Prime Minister faced significant backlash for his recent decision to cancel the HS2 high-speed rail leg to Manchester. Awkward video transition The video started with Sunak saying, "If you live in or around Blyth, you're going to want to hear this," before delivering a rather unconventional palm slap to the camera and then reappearing soon after in unaltered settings and appearance to complete the announcement. In the video, Sunak said, "If you live in or around Blyth, you're going to want to hear this," before delivering a rather unconventional palm slap to the camera for a moment and then taking his hand away from the camera, he added, "We're giving your town £20 million to improve things like the high street, safety, and community heritage." I can only assume Rishi Sunak’s digital communications team hate him. Didn’t even one of them explain to him that this isn’t how/when you use a ‘hand over camera’ transition? #HandOverCameraTransition #RishiSunak #GeneralElectionNow pic.twitter.com/8LNIEdCzF3 — Paul Ilett (@Paul_Ilett) October 11, 2023 × But the weird transition has set TikTok and other social media platforms ablaze as users jump into the saga to drop their reactions. TikTok users didn't waste a moment seizing on the awkward transition, turning it into a viral sensation with millions of views. Watch | Israeli commandos rescue hostages in daring operation against Hamas Some users, pretending to be caught off guard in front of the camera, took the opportunity to shift the conversation away from Sunak's intended message to a range of other topics. Soon it was a full-blown transition away from politics and to a memedom. Rishi Sunak’s attempt at a video transition has made him viral on TikTok as people globally duet with him - here’s one from Iceland pic.twitter.com/5F3B3zSv39 — nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) October 12, 2023 × Not a lot to make us smile currently but here’s Rishi Sunak not understanding how a transition in a video workspic.twitter.com/P9moanGc2X — nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) October 10, 2023 × What is interesting in this is that Sunak, who previously hinted at a potential ban on TiKToK, has now become a social media star on the same Chinese platform. Watch | Israel-Palestine war: Israel military reclaims base from Hamas, strikes intensifies × Sunak indicated that the contentious app could potentially be banned on all British government phones. “We take security of devices seriously,” he reportedly said regarding the possible ban on TikTok and added, “We look also at what our allies are doing. And we’re in the process of doing all of that.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

WATCH | UK PM Rishi Sunak’s flop video transition leaves social media in stitches

Amid the escalating war against the terrorist group Hamas, schools in Israel, as well as the UK and US, are urging parents to limit the use of social media by their kids.

This comes amid concerns that Hamas terrorists might broadcast images or videos of hostages being executed in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Gaza.

Several horrifying videos and footage have already appeared on social media, showing militants attacking and kidnapping civilians at a music festival. As per allegations, the terrorists also beheaded some Jewish babies and toddlers, an act that was also condemned by US President Joe Biden on record.

<h2>Parents urged to uninstall TikTok</h2>

A parents association in Israel’s Tel Aviv recently sent&nbsp;a message to its members, urging them to remove apps such as TikTok from their children’s phones.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;How Hamas became Israel's sworn enemy

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“We cannot allow our kids to watch this stuff. It is also difficult, furthermore – impossible – to contain all this content on social media,” according to the parents association. “Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,” it added in its statement.

Some Jewish schools in the US and UK are also making similar requests to parents.&nbsp;

“Together with other Jewish day schools, we are warning parents to disable social media apps such as Instagram, X, and Tiktok from their children’s phones,” the head of a school in New Jersey wrote in an email.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-blinken-heads-to-israel-us-urges-nations-to-use-influence-to-get-hamas-to-stand-down-645640">Also read:&nbsp;As Blinken heads to Israel, US urges nations to use influence to get Hamas to stand down</a>

“Graphic and often misleading information is flowing freely, augmenting the fears of our students. … Parents should discuss the dangers of these platforms and ask their children on a daily basis about what they are seeing, even if they have deleted the most unfiltered apps from their phones,” the statement read further.

<h2>Similar warnings issued for parents in Australia</h2>

Australia’s 9 News reported that parents of Jewish school students in Australia were alerted to protect their kids from distressing content that may appear on social media.

Jewish schools in Sydney this week told parents to be vigilant concerning their children's social media use, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported. Possible actions include deleting apps such as TikTok and Instagram.

Jewish Care Victoria also posted suggestions for how to address the topic of the ongoing conflict with children. "Be conscious of where and how children receive information," the group wrote.

"As much as possible, protect them from distressing images in news or social media,” it added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amid the escalating war against the terrorist group Hamas, schools in Israel, as well as the UK and US, are urging parents to limit the use of social media by their kids.

Amid the escalating war against the terrorist group Hamas, schools in Israel, as well as the UK and US, are urging parents to limit the use of social media by their kids. This comes amid concerns that Hamas terrorists might broadcast images or videos of hostages being executed in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Gaza. Several horrifying videos and footage have already appeared on social media, showing militants attacking and kidnapping civilians at a music festival. As per allegations, the terrorists also beheaded some Jewish babies and toddlers, an act that was also condemned by US President Joe Biden on record. Parents urged to uninstall TikTok A parents association in Israel’s Tel Aviv recently sent a message to its members, urging them to remove apps such as TikTok from their children’s phones. Watch: How Hamas became Israel's sworn enemy × “We cannot allow our kids to watch this stuff. It is also difficult, furthermore – impossible – to contain all this content on social media,” according to the parents association. “Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,” it added in its statement. Some Jewish schools in the US and UK are also making similar requests to parents. “Together with other Jewish day schools, we are warning parents to disable social media apps such as Instagram, X, and Tiktok from their children’s phones,” the head of a school in New Jersey wrote in an email. Also read: As Blinken heads to Israel, US urges nations to use influence to get Hamas to stand down “Graphic and often misleading information is flowing freely, augmenting the fears of our students. … Parents should discuss the dangers of these platforms and ask their children on a daily basis about what they are seeing, even if they have deleted the most unfiltered apps from their phones,” the statement read further. Similar warnings issued for parents in Australia Australia’s 9 News reported that parents of Jewish school students in Australia were alerted to protect their kids from distressing content that may appear on social media. Jewish schools in Sydney this week told parents to be vigilant concerning their children's social media use, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported. Possible actions include deleting apps such as TikTok and Instagram. Jewish Care Victoria also posted suggestions for how to address the topic of the ongoing conflict with children. "Be conscious of where and how children receive information," the group wrote. "As much as possible, protect them from distressing images in news or social media,” it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

‘Uninstall TikTok, Instagram now,’ Jewish parents urged to protect their kids from disturbing content online

The US state of Utah has sued the short video format application TikTok. It accused&nbsp;the Chinese-owned app of harming and "exploiting" young children by intentionally making them spend unhealthy amounts of time on the platform.

The suit filed on Tuesday (Oct 10th) is only the latest action challenging the popular app in the United States. Indiana and Arkansas had launched similar lawsuits against the video-sharing platform earlier.

<h2>Compulsion, exploitation and more</h2>

Utah's suit has been filed in the state court. It alleges that videos on TikTok leverage "highly powerful algorithms and manipulative design features — many of which mimic features of slot machines" and claims that as a result of these "manipulative" tactics, young consumers get hooked.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-residents-can-now-delete-all-their-personal-info-from-internet-645188">California residents can now delete all their personal info from internet</a>

Reuters reports that in the filing, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said: "What these children (and their parents) do not know is that TikTok is lying to them about the safety of its app and exploiting them into checking and watching the app compulsively, no matter the terrible effects it has on their mental health, their physical development, their family, and their social life."

<h2>What action is Utah seeking?</h2>

As per Reyes, Utah's investigation into TikTok is ongoing. The Utah Attorney General, as per Reuters, also said that he will next week ask a court to compel TikTok's compliance with investigative subpoenas.

Utah, according to the report, is seeking civil penalties and an injunction that will prohibit TikTok from violating a consumer protection state law which shields them from deceptive business practices.

Responding to the suit, TikTok said that it "has industry-leading safeguards for young people, including an automatic 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls for teen accounts."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-warns-elon-musk-to-tackle-dissemination-of-disinformation-on-x-after-hamas-attack-on-israel-645136">EU warns Musk to tackle spread of disinformation on X after Hamas attack on Israel</a>

TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a China-based company, has more than 150 million users in the US.

The company is already facing multiple lawsuits across the US. Last year, a group of Republican lawmakers had alleged that "many children are exposed to non-stop offerings of inappropriate content that TikTok’s algorithm force-feeds to them."

In December, Indiana sued the app. The case is pending in the state court. Arkansas launched its suit in March. The case that also involves Facebook-parent Meta accuses the social media companies of "pushing addictive platforms."

The state of Montana went one step further and banned the use of the app in the state. However, TikTok is seeking to block the ban which takes effect on Jan 1st. A hearing of the lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday (Oct&nbsp;12).

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US state of Utah has sued the short video format application TikTok. It accused the Chinese-owned app of harming and "exploiting" young children by intentionally making them spend unhealthy amounts of time on the platform.

The US state of Utah has sued the short video format application TikTok. It accused the Chinese-owned app of harming and "exploiting" young children by intentionally making them spend unhealthy amounts of time on the platform. The suit filed on Tuesday (Oct 10th) is only the latest action challenging the popular app in the United States. Indiana and Arkansas had launched similar lawsuits against the video-sharing platform earlier. Compulsion, exploitation and more Utah's suit has been filed in the state court. It alleges that videos on TikTok leverage "highly powerful algorithms and manipulative design features — many of which mimic features of slot machines" and claims that as a result of these "manipulative" tactics, young consumers get hooked. Also read | California residents can now delete all their personal info from internet Reuters reports that in the filing, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said: "What these children (and their parents) do not know is that TikTok is lying to them about the safety of its app and exploiting them into checking and watching the app compulsively, no matter the terrible effects it has on their mental health, their physical development, their family, and their social life." What action is Utah seeking? As per Reyes, Utah's investigation into TikTok is ongoing. The Utah Attorney General, as per Reuters, also said that he will next week ask a court to compel TikTok's compliance with investigative subpoenas. Utah, according to the report, is seeking civil penalties and an injunction that will prohibit TikTok from violating a consumer protection state law which shields them from deceptive business practices. Responding to the suit, TikTok said that it "has industry-leading safeguards for young people, including an automatic 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls for teen accounts." Also read | EU warns Musk to tackle spread of disinformation on X after Hamas attack on Israel TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a China-based company, has more than 150 million users in the US. The company is already facing multiple lawsuits across the US. Last year, a group of Republican lawmakers had alleged that "many children are exposed to non-stop offerings of inappropriate content that TikTok’s algorithm force-feeds to them." In December, Indiana sued the app. The case is pending in the state court. Arkansas launched its suit in March. The case that also involves Facebook-parent Meta accuses the social media companies of "pushing addictive platforms." The state of Montana went one step further and banned the use of the app in the state. However, TikTok is seeking to block the ban which takes effect on Jan 1st. A hearing of the lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday (Oct 12). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Utah sues TikTok for using 'manipulative tactics' to hook young children and exploit them

Indonesian trade minister said on Wednesday (Oct 4) that the nation has banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms, which came as a blow to TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance.&nbsp;

The announcement would damage TikTok's plan to double down on Southeast Asia's biggest economy to boost its e-commerce business.&nbsp;

The government said that the decision, which takes effect immediately, is intended to protect offline retailers and marketplaces.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-gb-news-fires-laurence-fox-after-vile-on-air-rant-against-female-journalist-642617">GB News fires Laurence Fox after vile on-air rant against female journalist</a>&nbsp;

The government also said that predatory pricing on social media platforms is affecting small and medium-sized businesses.&nbsp;

The final decision comes after the Ministry of Trade set a one-week deadline for TikTok to become a standalone app with no e-commerce features or risk being shut down.&nbsp;

In a statement, TikTok said on Tuesday: "Our priority is to remain compliant with local laws and regulations. As such, we will no longer facilitate e-commerce transactions in TikTok Shop Indonesia by 17:00 GMT+7, October 4, and will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities on the path forward."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-urges-climate-action-decries-irresponsible-western-lifestyle-642611">Pope urges climate action in COP28, decries 'irresponsible' Western lifestyle</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Thai PM visits Bangkok mall where shooting took place, assures safety of tourists

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Recently, President Joko Widodo called for social media regulations and also noted that the market has been flooded with foreign imports, and the influx of such platforms has contributed to a sales fall for domestic enterprises.&nbsp;

Last week, the Indonesian government outlawed e-commerce transactions on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook.&nbsp;

In Indonesia, TikTok has 125 million active monthly users.&nbsp;

A TikTok Indonesia spokesperson said it would pursue a constructive path forward and was "deeply concerned" with the announcement, "particularly how it would impact the livelihoods of the 6 million" local sellers active on TikTok Shop.&nbsp;

Indonesia Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Wednesday told reporters that the regulation is intended to ensure "fair and just" business competition, adding that it was also intended to ensure data protection of users.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Indonesian trade minister said on Wednesday (Oct 4) that the nation has banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms, which came as a blow to TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance.

Indonesian trade minister said on Wednesday (Oct 4) that the nation has banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms, which came as a blow to TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance. The announcement would damage TikTok's plan to double down on Southeast Asia's biggest economy to boost its e-commerce business. The government said that the decision, which takes effect immediately, is intended to protect offline retailers and marketplaces. Also read: GB News fires Laurence Fox after vile on-air rant against female journalist The government also said that predatory pricing on social media platforms is affecting small and medium-sized businesses. The final decision comes after the Ministry of Trade set a one-week deadline for TikTok to become a standalone app with no e-commerce features or risk being shut down. In a statement, TikTok said on Tuesday: "Our priority is to remain compliant with local laws and regulations. As such, we will no longer facilitate e-commerce transactions in TikTok Shop Indonesia by 17:00 GMT+7, October 4, and will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities on the path forward." Also read: Pope urges climate action in COP28, decries 'irresponsible' Western lifestyle Watch: Thai PM visits Bangkok mall where shooting took place, assures safety of tourists × Recently, President Joko Widodo called for social media regulations and also noted that the market has been flooded with foreign imports, and the influx of such platforms has contributed to a sales fall for domestic enterprises. Last week, the Indonesian government outlawed e-commerce transactions on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook. In Indonesia, TikTok has 125 million active monthly users. A TikTok Indonesia spokesperson said it would pursue a constructive path forward and was "deeply concerned" with the announcement, "particularly how it would impact the livelihoods of the 6 million" local sellers active on TikTok Shop. Indonesia Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Wednesday told reporters that the regulation is intended to ensure "fair and just" business competition, adding that it was also intended to ensure data protection of users. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok to stop e-commerce transactions in Indonesia after ban

Are you done with watching workout reels on social media? Do you also want to add some physical exercise to your routine but are not ready to indulge in any hardcore exercise? If yes, this new TikTok trend is for you - Cozy Cardio. Watch the video to know about this.

Cozy Cardio: The new fitness trend on social media which aims to improve mind & body

In the long list of bizarre trends, a new craze has taken over TikTok users whereby people use blunt objects like hammers and bottles and hit their faces in the pursuit of achieving aesthetically appealing looks.

Called the “Bone Smashing” trend, this baffling practice has already amassed more than 267.7 million views on TikTok.

This trend involves people attempting to reshape their facial features by deliberately breaking their own bones and achieving what they believe is a desirable face.

Some people posted before and after photos to indicate that they obtained the desired look by breaking their own facial bones.

<h2>Based on Wolff's Law</h2>

This trend seems to be rooted in 19th-century German surgeon and anatomist Julius Wolff's Law.

According to this theory, bones are constantly undergoing remodelling with old or damaged bones continuously being resorbed and replaced by new ones.

It argues that applying mechanical force or physical stress to your bones can actually increase the rate at which such remodelling occurs and, in the process, result in stronger, thicker bones. And the lack of such stress or force can lead to thinner or weaker bones.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-two-doctors-rescue-child-having-breathing-issues-mid-air-641567">India: Two doctors rescue child having breathing issues mid-air</a>

Some TikTokers seem to have misinterpreted this theory to sculpt their facial appearance to gain a more “chiselled” look.

<h2>Defies logic and science&nbsp;</h2>

There is, however, no evidence to suggest that hitting your face with blunt objects will make you more appealing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/when-fiction-becomes-reality-photo-of-asiatic-lion-standing-on-arabian-sea-shores-goes-viral-641517">When fiction becomes reality: Photo of Asiatic lion standing on Arabian Sea shore goes viral</a>

In fact, the “Bone Smashing” theory is contrary to what Wolff’s law talks about. A blow from a blunt object can actually cause harm, including fractures and deformity.

According to the Evening Standard newspaper, repeated injury from bone-shattering can cause nerve damage and discomfort, while extreme force can result in fractures and lifelong disfigurement.&nbsp;

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In the long list of bizarre trends, a new craze has taken over TikTok users whereby people use blunt objects like hammers and bottles and hit their faces in the pursuit of achieving aesthetically appealing looks.

In the long list of bizarre trends, a new craze has taken over TikTok users whereby people use blunt objects like hammers and bottles and hit their faces in the pursuit of achieving aesthetically appealing looks. Called the “Bone Smashing” trend, this baffling practice has already amassed more than 267.7 million views on TikTok. This trend involves people attempting to reshape their facial features by deliberately breaking their own bones and achieving what they believe is a desirable face. Some people posted before and after photos to indicate that they obtained the desired look by breaking their own facial bones. Based on Wolff's Law This trend seems to be rooted in 19th-century German surgeon and anatomist Julius Wolff's Law. According to this theory, bones are constantly undergoing remodelling with old or damaged bones continuously being resorbed and replaced by new ones. It argues that applying mechanical force or physical stress to your bones can actually increase the rate at which such remodelling occurs and, in the process, result in stronger, thicker bones. And the lack of such stress or force can lead to thinner or weaker bones. Also read | India: Two doctors rescue child having breathing issues mid-air Some TikTokers seem to have misinterpreted this theory to sculpt their facial appearance to gain a more “chiselled” look. Defies logic and science There is, however, no evidence to suggest that hitting your face with blunt objects will make you more appealing. Also read | When fiction becomes reality: Photo of Asiatic lion standing on Arabian Sea shore goes viral In fact, the “Bone Smashing” theory is contrary to what Wolff’s law talks about. A blow from a blunt object can actually cause harm, including fractures and deformity. According to the Evening Standard newspaper, repeated injury from bone-shattering can cause nerve damage and discomfort, while extreme force can result in fractures and lifelong disfigurement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘Bone Smashing’: Bizarre TikTok trend sees people hitting faces with hammers

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