TikTok

TikTok Pte. Ltd.
Developer(s)ByteDance
Initial release20 September 2016; 10 years ago (2016-09-20)
Operating system
Predecessor
Available in40 languages
List of languages
Type
LicenseProprietary
Websitetiktok.com
Douyin
Developer(s)Beijing Microlive Vision Technology Co., Ltd.
Initial release20 September 2016; 10 years ago (2016-09-20)
Stable release(s)
iOS/iPadOS34.9.0 / June 4, 2024; 2 years ago (2024-06-04)
Android35.1.0 / June 6, 2024; 2 years ago (2024-06-06)
Windows1.0.5.0 / August 21, 2023; 3 years ago (2023-08-21)
macOS2.7.0 / 16 August 2023, discontinued.
Operating system
Available inSimplified Chinese, English
TypeVideo sharing
LicenseProprietary
Websitedouyin.com
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TikTok is an online video sharing social networking service. It lets people create short videos that can range from 3 seconds to 10 minutes. TikTok videos can be about any topic. TikTok is popular all around the world. It was first released under the name of Douyin in China. It was released internationally in 2017. In 2018 Musical.ly was bought out by TikTok.

According to TikTok users must be at least 13 years old to have an account. If TikTok deems that an account is under 13, TikTok will ban the account. Any users on TikTok can also report accounts that they believe are under the age requirement.[non-primary source needed]

Features

For videos recorded that users don't want posted on the platform yet, those videos can stay in the drafts. These drafts stay in the app until it is deleted by the user or also when the app is uninstalled from the mobile device, all the drafts will get deleted. Leaving the video in the drafts gives you the ability to edit it later. Some edits that can be made are editing privacy details, thumbnails, and captions.

On TikTok users can also go LIVE which allows users to create content and interact with followers. Only those who are 18 and older can go LIVE on TikTok.[non-primary source needed]

BookTok

People on TikTok make videos about books. These videos are called "BookTok." The people talk about books they like. BookTok had more than 77 million book videos in April of 2026. Many people around the world watch BookTok to pick what they will read. In April 2026, TikTok started a 'BookTok Top 20' list. Ten writers wrote all the books on the first list. For example, Chloe Walsh wrote six of the top twenty books.

History

TikTok was created by ByteDance. It was released in September 2016 and was the most downloaded app in the United States in October 2018[source?]. As of 2022, TikTok has over 3 billion downloads, and over 1 billion active users each month.

Bans

On 29 June 2020, India decided to ban 59 apps including TikTok. A month later on 31 July 2020, US President Donald Trump announced a possible ban of the app. Then, on 18 September 2020, the Trump administration announced that the app would be removed from U.S. app stores on 12 November 2020, unless ByteDance can assure the Trump administration that the app does not pose a threat to U.S. security.

In April 2024, President Biden signed a law that could result in the banning of TikTok in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app to a non-Chinese entity by January 2025. On the night of 18 January 2025, TikTok was banned temporarily in the United States before being restored in the morning.

References

  1. ↑ "TikTok – Make Your Day". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  2. ↑ "抖音". App Store. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "TikTok is fast becoming the most popular app in the world". The Industry Observer. 4 November 2018. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. ↑ Lin, Pellaeon (22 March 2021). "TikTok vs Douyin: A Security and Privacy Analysis". Citizen Lab. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Lin, Liza; Winkler, Rolfe (9 November 2017). "Social-Media App Musical.ly Is Acquired for as Much as $1 Billion". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Social video app Musical.ly acquired for up to $1 billion". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Youth Safety and Well-Being". Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "TikTok drafts: How to save, edit, and delete drafts on TikTok". Dexerto. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "Accounts and Features". Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 "These readers say BookTok changed the way they read: 'Friends at your fingertips'". TODAY.com. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Heated Rivalry, The Housemaid and Fourth Wing: TikTok launches BookTok bestseller list". www.bbc.com. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Ruby, Daniel (19 August 2022). "TikTok User Statistics (2022): How many TikTok Users Are There?". demandsage. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "India bans 59 Chinese apps - TikTok, ShareIt, UC Browser, Helo, Likee". App India News. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  14. ↑ Kalhan Rosenblatt (1 August 2020). "Trump's threatened TikTok ban could motivate young users to vote, some say". NBC News. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  15. ↑ Swanson, Ana; McCabe, David; Nicas, Jack (18 September 2020). "Trump Administration to Ban TikTok and WeChat From U.S. App Stores". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "TikTok ban in US, how many countries have banned TikTok - 2024 Data [Comprehensive Guide] - IMO Media Hub". 24 September 2024. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  17. ↑ Allyn, Bobby (18 January 2025). "TikTok is offline in the U.S. after Supreme Court upholds ban". NPR. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  18. ↑ IV, Antonio Pequeño. "TikTok Ban Live Updates: TikTok Back Online For Many Users—As Trump Promises To Delay US Ban". Forbes. Retrieved 19 January 2025.

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