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In light of the potential ban on TikTok in the U.S., the popular social media platform's e-commerce feature, TikTok Shop, continues to thrive. The recent signing of a law by the president has raised concerns about the future of TikTok, but the shopping feature remains accessible and in full swing. Despite the uncertainty surrounding TikTok's future, Chinese e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein stand to benefit the most if the app is banned in the U.S. With TikTok Shop's increasing popularity, these companies could potentially fill the gap left by TikTok's absence and capture a larger share of the market. Bytedance, the parent company of Ti...... Read Full article on HadNews

AI tutor apps, particularly from China, are changing how students in the U.S. study by providing affordable and personalized assistance, as reported by TechCrunch. SensorTower data shows that Question AI, a China-based app, has been downloaded six million times in the U.S. since its 2023 launch, while Gauth, launched by ByteDance in 2019, has seen 12 million installs. Question AI was reportedly developed by the creators of Zuoyebang, a widely used Chinese homework app that has secured approximately $3 billion in funding over the last ten years. Job for AI tutor app Gauth is advertised on TikTok parent company ByteDance’s website. Credit...... Read Full article on HadNews

TikTok has encountered a barrage of bans, and the U.S. is close to joining the list. Discussions of a ban started last year, gaining attention, especially after a high-profile congressional hearing featuring TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew. By 2024, the House of Representatives, with a significant majority, approved legislation requiring parent company ByteDance to sell its interest in the app or risk being banned in the United States. There has already been a swathe of countries that have imposed varying degrees of limitations on the app, primarily due to privacy and cybersecurity issues linked to its parent company ByteDance and its conne...... Read Full article on HadNews

With the ban looming, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance is trying to diversify by promoting its other social media platform named Lemon8. According to the New York Post, the company is paying influencers to suggest the other app via TikTok. Often described as being similar to Pinterest, Lemon8 allows users to share photos and look for inspiration from others. It’s said to be very similar to the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu. A content creator spoke exclusively to The Post saying she was offered $200 for a brand deal where she was asked to upload ‘a video that promotes Lemon8 on TikTok.’ While she didn’t take ByteDance up on the ...... Read Full article on HadNews

A US safety body for artificial intelligence (AI) experts has admitted a researcher from China-owned ByteDance was mistakenly added to an online discussion channel. The worker, employed by the parent company of TikTok, was granted access to a Slack group chat used by members of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It is an embarrassing incident for the organization given that TikTok is currently embroiled in a high-profile national debate in the States on whether or not the popular video-hosting app is an asset for the Chinese government to spy on, or influence a significant number of American citizens. TikTok ...... Read Full article on HadNews

As US lawmakers approve a bill that could see TikTok banned, China warns that such a ban would “come back to bite” America. March 13 saw the House of Representatives voting on a bill that could result in TikTok being banned in the US within six months, unless the Chinese-owned app severs its ties with China. The US is the country with the largest TikTok audience by far as it stands, with almost 150 million users engaging with the popular social video platform – a substantial audience that the company, Bytedance, will not want to lose. Concern around TikTok from US officials has been a long-standing issue, with fears around data protect...... Read Full article on HadNews