The US Senate is considering a bill that could ban TikTok in the US if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not sell the app. The measure, included in a foreign aid package, has bipartisan support, with proponents citing concerns about the Chinese Communist Party’s potential access to TikTok user data and its threat to national security. However, some senators, including Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, have raised concerns about a potential ban’s impact on free speech.
TikTok has submitted a risk assessment report on its new app, TikTok Lite, to the European Commission, thereby averting a potential fine. The EU had raised concerns about the app’s reward program and its potential addictive nature for children. The Commission had set a 24-hour deadline for TikTok to provide the report, and has now confirmed its receipt.
The Senate has overwhelmingly approved a $95 billion war aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, bringing the bill closer to passage. The package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for countering China in the Indo-Pacific. The legislation also includes a provision that could ban the social media app TikTok in the U.S. if its Chinese owners do not sell their stake within a year.
Popular social media platform TikTok is implementing stricter community guidelines to restrict content related to weight loss drugs and anabolic steroids, effective May 17. This move aims to promote self-esteem and prevent negative social comparisons. The prohibition extends to content such as before-and-after photos and the marketing of weight loss products. However, discussions on medically necessary health interventions under professional guidance are still permitted.
The Senate is poised to pass a multi-billion-dollar foreign aid package that includes measures to potentially ban the Chinese-owned TikTok app, part of a comprehensive funding package for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. The legislation has cleared a key procedural hurdle and is expected to receive final approval soon.
Tara, a 50-year-old TikTok sensation known as @tara216000016, proudly defies age norms by dating younger men. Despite facing criticism and even being labeled ‘damaged goods,’ Tara refuses to be shamed for her choices. In a viral response to a sexist comment, she asserts that emotionally stable and financially secure older women are anything but ‘damaged goods.’ While she enjoys her companionship, Tara emphasizes that she is not seeking marriage and encourages men to respect her boundaries.
The European Commission has received a response from TikTok regarding its concerns about the mental health risks associated with the new TikTok Lite app’s rewards scheme. The Commission had sent a legally binding order to TikTok requesting an assessment of the potential addictiveness and mental health implications of the scheme, particularly for children. TikTok initially responded by stating that it had conducted a risk assessment but could not share the document. The Commission then issued a binding order, to which TikTok has now replied.
The Commission will now evaluate TikTok’s response and determine the next steps. If it finds that TikTok has not adequately addressed the concerns, it could impose fines of up to 1% of TikTok’s global annual revenue, with periodic fines of 5% of its daily revenue. The Commission is also considering ordering TikTok to suspend the rewards feature if it deems the risks to be too severe.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) requires large platforms to assess and mitigate risks associated with their services, and TikTok’s response to the Commission’s request will be scrutinized to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
TikToker Sam Stickler and ‘The Bachelor’ star Jason Tartick have sparked relationship rumors after being spotted together on multiple occasions and exchanging posts on their Instagram stories. Although Tartick remains tight-lipped about their alleged romance, he has expressed admiration for Stickler, describing her as ‘amazing’ and ‘special.’ Tartick attributes his reserved approach to dating to the public nature of his past relationship with Kaitlyn Bristowe, which ended in a breakup in August 2023. Meanwhile, Stickler has also experienced a public breakup with her ex-husband, Mike Stickler. Her subsequent comedic content on TikTok and her business venture, SturDrinks, have garnered significant attention.
A ban on TikTok in the US is back on the table as the Senate considers a revised bill that would give ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based owner, additional time to sell its stake. The measure, which was merged with a larger spending bill, could be passed as early as Tuesday afternoon. If the bill passes and is signed by President Biden, ByteDance would have 270 days to divest TikTok, with a possible 90-day extension if a sale is in progress. Should the company fail to divest within this timeframe, the ban would take effect between January and April 2025. However, legal challenges are likely to delay the divestment deadline and the ban itself. TikTok has indicated it will challenge the law in court if it passes. Interested buyers, including Kevin O’Leary and Steven Mnuchin, have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok, valued at over $100 billion. The Chinese government’s approval would be required due to export restrictions on recommendation algorithms.
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have collectively invested over $7 million this year in lobbying efforts to prevent a potential ban of the app in the United States. ByteDance has spent a record $2.68 million on in-house lobbyists, while TikTok has allocated over $4.5 million to an ad campaign opposing legislation targeting the app. These expenditures aim to educate policymakers about the legislation’s potential impact on TikTok’s 170 million American users. The disclosures indicate that TikTok officials have lobbied Congress and the Biden administration, including the National Security Council and the Office of Management and Budget. While the House has passed legislation that would require ByteDance to divest TikTok within nine months, the Senate is expected to vote on a similar bill on Tuesday. Additionally, ByteDance has retained external consultants, including veteran lobbyist David Urban, to influence Congress.
