We're calling security
Still not sure about why you need to wear a face mask? Bill Nye breaks it down for you (along with his 2.4 million TikTok followers).
Calling Security
TikTok faces new threats
If anyone needs a summer vacation, it might be the executives at TikTok, who seem to face new challenges on the daily. On Friday, Amazon sent an email to its employees demanding that they remove the video-sharing app, which is owned by China-based ByteDance. The email cited "security risks." A company spokesperson later told the BBC that the email was sent in error and that there is no change to TikTok policy. But earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration is looking at banning Chinese media apps, like TikTok, citing a threat to national security. Meanwhile, India named it among 59 Chinese apps it's banning due to security concerns.
TikTok and its parent company have promised to make several changes. For example, ByteDance has halted operations in Hong Kong. It made the app inoperable after China instituted a new national security law. Executives are also considering a new business structure or management outside of China, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The company also recently hired Kevin Meyer, Disney's head of streaming, to be the chief executive of TikTok.
What's next
Many creators and users are getting nervous about what all of this means for the future of the app. Others are wondering if it's safe to use, particularly after a researcher discovered the app could siphon off anything copied to a smartphone clipboard. But with roughly 2 billion downloads worldwide, it's going to be hard to cancel this app.
NEWS-LIKE
Cancel that
The debate over "cancel culture" is heating up on social media after a group of academics, thinkers, and celebrities — including J.K. Rowling, Margaret Atwood, and Salman Rushdie — signed an open letter in Harper's magazine deriding what they call "illiberalism." "The free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted," the letter says. But reaction on Twitter was swift, and largely critical of the letter and its message, which some say is just about influential people getting their feelings hurt when they do something others don't like. Some of those who signed it later tweeted an explanation, like Malcolm Gladwell, while others are asking to have their signatures removed.
Is it December yet?
Given the year we've had so far, is anyone surprised that many of us can't wait for Christmas? At least that's what research published recently by Pinterest suggests. It shows that holiday-related searches were up 77% in April compared to the previous year. Not only are searches up, but they are also earlier than ever. Typically the platform sees this type of traffic in September, not spring. There was also a 3x increase in searches for "Christmas gift ideas." Marketers should take note and start planning now, and some have. You can enjoy a bevy of holiday classics and cooking on the W Network and Food Network this month.
I just want to say publicly - that I know some really nice Karen's.
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Jann Arden bringing some positivity to Twitter by defending the many innocent people named Karen, who should not be confused with "Karen" - the name used to call out entitled white middle-aged woman who use their privilege to police others (often unfairly).
ICYMI
🔴 Instagram is now letting users pin comments on posts in an attempt to help users control the tone of the conversation
🔴 Facebook is expanding the test of its Instagram Reels app (a TikTok copycat) to India, while also reportedly considering a political ad ban
🔴 Twitter is reportedly thinking about offering a subscription platform
🔴 LinkedIn now lets you create a 10-second audio recording of you saying your name to help with pronunciations
🔴 Snapchat is encouraging NFL fans to continue using its platform when/if play returns to the gridiron
🔴 YouTube introduced a new monetization metric called RPM (revenue per mile) to help creators better understand how they are making money
TikTok... you don't stop
TikTok was the most downloaded app in June 2020 on both the Apple and Google app stores, according to analytics app platform Sensor Tower. It recorded more than 87 million installs last month, and has been downloaded close to 2 billion times worldwide in total.
And if you're looking for something to stream — we give Amy Schumer's new HBO Max docuseries "Expecting Amy" a big 👍.