TikTok

TikTok is a short-form video social media platform operated by the Chinese technology company ByteDance. Launched internationally in 2017 as the global version of Douyin, the platform expanded its user base in 2018 by acquiring and merging with Musical.ly. As of 2025, TikTok has grown into one of the world's largest social media platforms, surpassing 1.5 billion monthly active users.

The company operates an advertising-driven business model, which is supplemented by creator monetization programs and in-app commerce. Under the leadership of CEO Shou Zi Chew, the platform has navigated significant regulatory challenges in the United States.

Following the 2024 "divest-or-ban" law, ByteDance restructured TikTok's U.S. operations in January 2026. The U.S. business was transitioned to the TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, backed by majority-American investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, while ByteDance retains ownership of the platform outside the United States.