TikTok
Elon Musk's X Platform Fined $140 Million by EU for Digital Services Act Violations
Dec 05, 2025 07:32 pm CST
The European Union has imposed a €120 million ($140 million) fine on Elon Musk's social media platform X for breaching the Digital Services Act regulations on online content. This landmark first penalty under new EU tech legislation addresses transparency failures and platform design issues, while TikTok avoided similar sanctions through concessions. The case highlights growing tensions between US tech companies and European regulators over digital governance standards.
Revealed: Meta Concealed Research Showing Social Media's Causal Link to Mental Health Harm, Court Documents Allege
Nov 23, 2025 10:15 am CST
Court filings reveal that Meta allegedly buried internal research demonstrating causal links between Facebook/Instagram usage and negative mental health outcomes. According to documents from a class action lawsuit by US school districts, Meta's "Project Mercury" found that users who deactivated their accounts for a week reported reduced depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The company reportedly terminated further research rather than publishing these findings, while continuing to tell Congress it couldn't quantify platform harms to teenagers.
China Approves TikTok Transfer Agreement: US Treasury Secretary Confirms Progress
Oct 31, 2025 12:19 am CST
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has confirmed that China has approved the transfer agreement for TikTok, with implementation expected in coming weeks. The announcement follows a meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant development in the ongoing negotiations over the popular short video platform.
EU Commission Finds Meta and TikTok in Breach of Digital Services Act for Restricting Research Access
Oct 24, 2025 07:54 pm CST
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that Meta and TikTok are violating the Digital Services Act by limiting researchers' access to public data. Additionally, Meta's platforms Facebook and Instagram were found to have confusing and ineffective mechanisms for reporting illegal content, potentially facing fines of up to 6% of their annual global revenue if violations are confirmed.
YouTube Challenges Australia's Social Media Ban: Why Restricting Children's Access May Not Improve Online Safety
Oct 13, 2025 10:47 am CST
YouTube warns that Australia's upcoming ban on social media for children under 16 is well-intentioned but ineffective for ensuring online safety. The video platform argues it should be exempt from the legislation, which will impose fines up to AUS$49.5 million on non-compliant companies by 2025. Industry representatives describe the rushed legislation as problematic, with experts concerned it may be merely symbolic rather than practical in implementation.
New York City Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Social Media Giants Over Youth Mental Health Crisis
Oct 09, 2025 11:38 am CST
New York City has initiated legal action against major social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging these companies deliberately designed addictive products that have fueled a mental health crisis among youth. The 327-page federal complaint cites alarming screen time statistics and dangerous trends like "subway surfing" while seeking damages for the significant public health and economic impact on the city's 1.8 million residents under age 18.
ByteDance to Retain 50% of US TikTok Profits Under Trump-Negotiated Deal Despite Ownership Transfer
Sep 27, 2025 01:45 am CST
ByteDance is set to maintain approximately half of TikTok's US operation profits through a complex licensing and profit-sharing arrangement, despite selling majority ownership to American investors under a Trump-negotiated deal. This structure explains the surprising $14 billion valuation that falls significantly below analyst expectations of $35-40 billion, raising questions about the true economics behind this landmark tech transaction.
Trump Approves Deal Transferring TikTok US Operations to American Investors: What Users Need to Know
Sep 26, 2025 04:36 pm CST
President Trump has signed an executive order approving a deal that transfers majority control of TikTok's US operations to American investors, led by Oracle. Under the agreement, US investors will control 80% of the company and its algorithm, while ByteDance retains less than 20% ownership. The deal ensures TikTok's continued availability in the US while addressing national security concerns through American oversight of data and operations.
The Strategic Implications of the US-China TikTok Deal: What's Really at Stake
Sep 26, 2025 01:38 pm CST
The TikTok deal between the US and China represents more than just saving a popular app - it's a complex geopolitical chess move with significant implications for both nations. While Trump celebrates keeping TikTok operational in America, Beijing maintains control of the coveted algorithm through a licensing arrangement, potentially gaining concessions in other strategic areas. As ByteDance pivots toward AI dominance in China, this compromise may indicate that TikTok is now just one piece in a larger technological power struggle between the world's superpowers.
Trump Meets with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif in Oval Office as US-Pakistan Relations Warm
Sep 26, 2025 10:22 am CST
US President Donald Trump meets with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Oval Office as relations between the countries continue to improve. The meeting follows recent diplomatic exchanges and a $500 million US investment in Pakistan's minerals sector. Trump also approved a TikTok deal, signaling improved US-China cooperation.