What the Heck Is Going on With TikTok?

Digital Download offers bite-size takes on what’s happening in the world of social media trends, policy, and culture.

Keeping track of everything happening with TikTok right now is about as exhausting as navigating that one month when it's suddenly everyone's birthday.

That's why we've put together this running list of developments affecting the social media behemoth. Check back in for regular updates on the app we love to hate (but actually love):

• In an effort to help brands build more content, TikTok launched Sounds for Business; a suite of royalty-free sounds to help brand build organic and paid content.  
• TikTok is developing a new app for sharing photos, which will likely be named TikTok Notes.
• TikTok has introduced a new tool called Creator Search Insights, currently available in select regions, to help creators connect with their audience through search.
• A law to potentially ban the app has reached the senate.
• President Biden has signed a law to ban TikTok across the country unless it's sold in the next year.
• TikTok has sued the US government over the law requiring its parent company ByteDance to sell.
• Content created by AI tools will now be labeled as such on TikTok.
• TikTok launched Fan Spotlight, which gives artists the chance to showcase a select number of fan videos on their music tab.
• TikTok Studio launched to help creators – well – create. On desktop!
• In an effort to potentially get ahead of US legislation, TikTok reportedly began working on a clone of its recommendation algorithm for its 170 million American users towards the end of last year.
• TikTok claims it offered the US government a 'kill switch' in 2022 to shutdown the platform in an effort to alleviate the concerns that led to President Biden's ban.
• TikTok is working on a new feature to let brands create “virtual” character influencers to sell products on the app.
• To really no one's surprise, TikTok appears to be launching its own AI chatbot.
• TikTok has partnered with Amazon to let users make purchases without ever leaving their feeds.
• TikTok launches scheme that offers discounts and cash incentives when you invite friends with big followings from other platforms.
• With a new selling guide for U.S. brands, TikTok aims to increase commerce activity.
• TikTok finally heads to court to defend itself from being banned in the U.S.