TikTok

TikTok is a social media platform focusing on short-form videos owned by Chinese firm ByteDance.

First launched worldwide in 2017 and becoming even more available in 2018, TikTok has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, particularly among younger users, with the app boasting a large daily userbase.

It has been downloaded billions of times worldwide and at one point was even estimated to have surpassed Google in popularity. 

The app itself is well-known for its trends and its easy-to-use video creation, making it very accessible to new users. 

However, the app is also controversial due to a number of issues, such as its links to China, perceived addictive nature, censorship issues and privacy concerns.

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New on TikTok: Meditation exercises to relax before sleep

TikTok adds default meditation for teens to help them relax before bed, and donates $2.3M in ad credits to global mental health organizations.

Mushroom coffee: Is TikTok's trending brew a health miracle or just a fad?

'Most mushroom coffees contain too little extract to deliver real benefits,' says an expert.

19-year-old TikTok star Anna Grace Phelan dies after battle with glioblastoma

Phelan's family expressed gratitude for the countless prayers offered for her healing and peace during her battle with cancer.

Pro-Palestinian TikToker with 3.4m followers, endorses murder of Israeli embassy employees

“I do not condemn the elimination of the Zionist officials who worked at the Israeli embassy last night,” Christensen, a Gen-Z influencer who goes by YourFavoriteGuy on TikTok, said.

By BEN SALES/JTA
24/05/2025

TikTok adds guided meditation to interrupt teens' feeds at 10 PM for better sleep

If teens choose to ignore the meditation message, the app will display a second full-screen notice that is harder to ignore.

 Aish, Partners in Torah and Jewish learning on Tiktok and Instagram

The magic of learning Torah together: Reshaping 21st-century Jewish learning

Judaism isn’t just transmitted from one generation to the next passively, it is transformative, especially when learned with a partner

By JAMIE GELLER
06/05/2025

Head-to-head with TikTok: Instagram launches a video editing app

The app lets users create advanced videos quickly on their phone, with pro tools, no watermark, and real-time insights — all in a user-friendly interface.

Australian nurse influencer causes uproar with Nazi salute video

An Australian nurser and lifestyle influencer issued an apology after posting a video in which she appeared to perform a Nazi salute.

OnlyFans founder looks at bidding on TikTok as app's future unsure

OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely is the latest to throw his hat into the ring for TikTok.

By REUTERS
09/04/2025

Dara Horn’s gonzo, time-traveling children’s Passover book wants people to love living Jews

Author Dara Horn explores Jewish time and memory in her new middle-grade graphic novel "One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe."

By ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL/JTA
04/04/2025
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