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The latest in TikTok

Is TikTok breaking young voters’ brains?
TikTok

TikTok has made itself into a hub for Gen Z political expression. But as Zoomers change politics, how is the app changing them?

By Christian Paz
Congress’s online child safety bill, explainedCongress’s online child safety bill, explained
Technology

What is the Kids’ Online Safety Act, and why should you care about it?

By A.W. Ohlheiser
How TikTok Shop ads turned an obscure, inaccurate book into a bestsellerHow TikTok Shop ads turned an obscure, inaccurate book into a bestseller
TikTok

Was this book the reason TikTok is getting banned in the US? No, but ads saying so sold a lot of copies.

By A.W. Ohlheiser
Is the new TikTok ban for real?Is the new TikTok ban for real?
Politics

Biden has signed a bill to ban TikTok. But it’s not over yet.

By Nicole Narea
TikTok could avoid a ban with a sale. Finding a buyer won’t be easy.TikTok could avoid a ban with a sale. Finding a buyer won’t be easy.
Technology

Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is among those lining up to buy TikTok if Congress enacts a law that forces its Chinese owner to sell.

By Nicole Narea
It’s not just Gen Z. Here’s what TikTok’s user base tells us about a potential ban’s impact.It’s not just Gen Z. Here’s what TikTok’s user base tells us about a potential ban’s impact.
TikTok

The app skews younger, its users appear more politically polarized, and its user base is changing.

By Christian Paz
Banning TikTok would be both ineffective and harmfulBanning TikTok would be both ineffective and harmful
Technology

The US House passed a bill that could ban the social video app, but sending TikTok into the ether won’t make social media any safer

By A.W. Ohlheiser
How discredited health claims find a second life on TikTokHow discredited health claims find a second life on TikTok
Health

TikTok accounts are using audio from a banned wellness coach to sell salt and castor oil.

By A.W. Ohlheiser
Who’ll blink first: The world’s largest music company or TikTok?Who’ll blink first: The world’s largest music company or TikTok?
Audio
Social Media

Why Taylor Swift, Drake, and Bad Bunny have been muted on TikTok dance videos.

By Sean Rameswaram and Hady Mawajdeh
Would you dump someone if they didn’t peel you an orange?Would you dump someone if they didn’t peel you an orange?
Culture

An expert explains what TikTok’s true love litmus test is really all about.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Starbucks has lost $11 billion market value, and not because of boycottsStarbucks has lost $11 billion market value, and not because of boycotts
Money

Starbucks’s messy December, explained.

By Emily Stewart
Why influencers with 7, 8, or 10 kids are having a moment
Family

Americans are having smaller families. Why are we obsessed with large ones?

By Anna North
How TikTok profits off dangerous health trends
Technology

Castor oil won’t dissolve cysts and tumors. Some creators on TikTok Shop are earning commissions by suggesting otherwise.

By A.W. Ohlheiser
TikTok’s shopping push left my For You page in shamblesTikTok’s shopping push left my For You page in shambles
Technology

The new Shop feature appears to be transforming the entire app experience.

By A.W. Ohlheiser
The biggest names in food are just regular people on TikTokThe biggest names in food are just regular people on TikTok
Culture

How fancy chefs and the Food Network became the old guard of food media.

By Alicia Kennedy
Why TikTokers are drinking laundry detergent
Technology

The borax challenge is spreading to Facebook now, too.

By A.W. Ohlheiser
TikTok is confusing by designTikTok is confusing by design
Technology

TikTok isn’t the way I want the internet to work, but it’s where the internet is going.

By Sara Morrison
The ad industry is going all-in on AI
The rise of artificial intelligence, explained

At Cannes Lions, the year’s biggest ad event, you couldn’t escape talk of ChatGPT or Midjourney, even at the yacht parties.

By Shirin Ghaffary
How a carmaker’s mistake created the ultimate internet challenge
Technology

Thanks in part to TikTok, the Kia Boys and the grand theft auto have swept the country.

By Sara Morrison
What will stop AI from flooding the internet with fake images?What will stop AI from flooding the internet with fake images?
The rise of artificial intelligence, explained

Google, Adobe, Microsoft, and other tech companies are trying new ways to label content made by AI.

By Shirin Ghaffary
Montana’s TikTok ban — and the legal challenge of it — explainedMontana’s TikTok ban — and the legal challenge of it — explained
Politics

TikTok is now suing the state over its new policy.

By Li Zhou
9 questions about the attempts to ban TikTok, answered9 questions about the attempts to ban TikTok, answered
Technology

So you heard TikTok’s being banned. Here’s what’s actually happening.

By Rebecca Jennings, Sara Morrison and 1 more
The RESTRICT Act is more bad news for TikTokThe RESTRICT Act is more bad news for TikTok
Technology

Sens. Mark Warner and John Thune have a bipartisan bill to deal with TikTok and beyond.

By Sara Morrison
The “You’re doing it wrong”-ification of TikTok
Culture

Everything is a “don’t” in the new era of influencing.

By Anna North
3 winners and 3 losers from Congress’s TikTok hearing3 winners and 3 losers from Congress’s TikTok hearing
Technology

TikTok, and its CEO Shou Chew, never really stood a chance.

By Sara Morrison and Christian Paz
Is TikTok too big to ban?Is TikTok too big to ban?
Technology

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before Congress as the future of his app is in doubt. Or maybe it’s all just a lot of posturing.

By Sara Morrison
TikTok isn’t really limiting kids’ time on its appTikTok isn’t really limiting kids’ time on its app
Technology

Teens can still click right on through the new screen time limit.

By Sara Morrison
Inside the lonely and surprisingly earnest world of political TikTok
Politics

As TikTok faces a potential ban and growing national security concerns, a few politicians are posting through the turmoil.

By Christian Paz
TikTok’s master plan to win over WashingtonTikTok’s master plan to win over Washington
Technology

Millions spent on lobbyists, a billion spent on safeguards. Will it be enough to stay in the United States?

By Sara Morrison
Behind the scenes at TikTok as it campaigns to change Americans’ hearts and mindsBehind the scenes at TikTok as it campaigns to change Americans’ hearts and minds
Technology

What I learned from a tour of the company’s new transparency and accountability center.

By Shirin Ghaffary
Lucky girl syndrome and the endless rebranding of “The Secret”Lucky girl syndrome and the endless rebranding of “The Secret”
Money

TikTokers are finding new ways to, in their words, “be delusional.”

By Rebecca Jennings
“Hater” doesn’t have to be a dirty word“Hater” doesn’t have to be a dirty word
Money

Meet the influencers who won’t “let people enjoy things.”

By Rebecca Jennings
Sleazeballs are hot againSleazeballs are hot again
Money

Matty Healy, for when you’re ready to graduate from Harry Styles.

By Rebecca Jennings
Good luck explaining a TikTok ban to young peopleGood luck explaining a TikTok ban to young people
Politics

Consensus is building in Washington that the most popular social media app among teenagers is a national security risk. How do you explain that to the app’s users?

By Christian Paz
The irresistible voyeurism of “day in my life” videosThe irresistible voyeurism of “day in my life” videos
Money

These are the days of our lives.

By Rebecca Jennings
The US government’s TikTok ban is more complicated than it soundsThe US government’s TikTok ban is more complicated than it sounds
Technology

The omnibus spending bill includes a limited ban that’s mostly symbolic.

By Sara Morrison
Maybe Trump was right about TikTok
Technology

No matter who controls Congress, TikTok’s in trouble.

By Sara Morrison
NASA’s rules for astronaut posting: No TikTok, don’t embarrass us
Technology

Over 100 pages of documents show how the space agency handles social media and discussions about Ukraine.

By Rebecca Heilweil
TikTok won’t stop serving me horror and death
Technology

For You: The worst things that have ever happened to everyone else.

By Sara Morrison