Amid continued global popularity coupled with increasing scrutiny from various regulators and officials, TikTok’s chief executive Shou Zi Chew reaffirmed the platform's ultimate goal is to “inspire creativity and create joy”, and also said it “makes sense” that Joe Biden’s US presidential campaign joined the platform.
Mr Chew made the comments at the Leap 2024 conference in Riyadh, a four-day technology exhibition featuring established companies, budding start-ups, entrepreneurs and government officials from around the world.
“We think that it makes sense for them,” he said, when asked about Mr Biden’s campaign, which started posting videos to TikTok in early February.
“This is a great platform to send a message and to connect to large community of engaged users,” Mr Chew said, noting other political campaigns and various causes have joined the social platform.
The user-generated video-sharing platform, has an estimated 1 billion active monthly users and has been the social-network du jour, particularly among younger people.
“Our most viral content is usually the very joyful content, it’s inspiring and joyful,” the chief said during a fireside chat at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Despite its ascent to the top of app download charts and being on the tip of every tongue in the tech world and social media users, TikTok is not without its critics, particularly among regulators in Europe and North America.
TikTok is owned in part by China-based ByteDance, and concerns and speculation have swirled about how the platform saves and uses personal user data.
While testifying before the US Congress in last year, Mr Chew, a Singaporean, dismissed concerns raised by representatives.
“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” he said during his opening remarks.
In India the platform is banned and US elected officials have gone as far as to suggest the app might present a national security risk, in part because of TikTok’s financial connection to China.
Several US federal legislators have suggested a potential ban of the app unless ByteDance divests from the company.
Concerns about the potential for child exploitation, though not unique to TikTok, have also been a talking point.
Mr Chew told the packed auditorium that the company has invested significantly in keeping users safe and that the work is continuing.
“Safety is a core part of the TikTok experience,” he said, referring to protections for users under 18 such as truncated features and screen time limits.
Under 13s are not allowed to use the app, according to the company’s policies.
There is also concern regarding elections taking place in various parts of the world, about inauthentic behaviour or potentially fake, AI-generated videos appearing on TikTok, something Mr Chew said he was already addressing.
“We catch, remove and publish about them [inauthentic actors] in a transparency report,” he said. “We’re making the right investments [in security] to identify the inauthentic behaviour, especially with all the elections taking place across the world this year."
As for what keeps TikTok’s popularity and momentum going, Mr Chew said the platform’s emphasis on not focusing solely on who people follow had proved significant.
“We thought that content should be recommended to people not just based on who they follow, and instead the innovation we brought in was showing people what they like,” he said, noting TikTok’s algorithm, which takes in account of how long videos are played, replayed, shared and stitched.
“That really is the secret."
During his visit to Saudi Arabia for Leap, TikTok has announced a strategic partnership with non-profit organisations Injaz Al Arab and Injaz Saudi to use its platform to raise awareness of employability skills among young people in Saudi Arabia.
“Entrepreneurship and employment initiatives are critical to realising Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the nation’s ambitious road map for economic transformation,” said Helena Lersch, TikTok’s vice president of public policy and global head of corporate social responsibility.
“TikTok is committed to working with local leaders to support initiatives that will help realise this vision and be a platform to inspire the next generation.”
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
LOVE%20AGAIN
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Jurassic%20Park
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More about Middle East geopolitics
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
MATCH INFO
Schalke 0
Werder Bremen 1 (Bittencourt 32')
Man of the match Leonardo Bittencourt (Werder Bremen)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Results
2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.
4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.
Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
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