Biden signs law that potentially bans TikTok in the US

Photo: Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

US President Biden signed a foreign aid bill that includes a provision effectively banning TikTok in the US unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the app within a year. This "divest-or-ban" clause gives ByteDance nine months to find a buyer, with a potential three-month extension from the President if progress is shown.

The bill had initially stalled in the Senate after passing the House. However, it was strategically attached to a critical foreign aid package, pressuring the Senate to consider it. This tactic, along with a longer divestment window, swayed some undecided lawmakers.

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TikTok tests photo-sharing app to rival Instagram

Image: TikTok

TikTok is developing a new app, possibly called TikTok Notes, to compete with Instagram in the photo-sharing space. Screenshots from users and confirmation from TikTok reveal the app's existence, though it's not yet available.

Pop-up notifications within the TikTok app inform users about the upcoming "TikTok Notes" app and allow them to opt out of syncing their existing photos.

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TikTok reportedly prepares to challenge Instagram's photo turf

Image: TheSpAndroid

Instagram's recent push towards short-form videos with Reels seems to be inspiring a response from its competitor. Code discovered within the latest TikTok update suggests the upcoming launch of a dedicated photo-sharing app called TikTok Photos. 

This information comes from a teardown of the latest TikTok app (version 33.8.4) by TheSpAndroid. The code reveals references like "Open TikTok Photos," hinting at a separate app. Additionally, strings like "Share this post to TikTok Photos" and "Reach other like-minded people who enjoy photo posts" solidify the app's focus.

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TikTok is reportedly launching generative AI avatars

Image: Matt Navarra

TikTok might let you use AI-generated profile pictures (like Lensa), but it'll be within the app. Social media consultant Matt Navarra shared some of the leaked screenshots of the feature built into the app. The tool will supposedly ask you to submit three to ten photos before picking from two to five different styles that the eventual AI-made photos will look like. You then wait for the feature to generate your AI images before downloading them, setting them as one of your avatars or posting them on your TikTok story.

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