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US and China reach ‘final deal’ on TikTok sale, treasury secretary says
October 27, 2025
Scott Bessent said plan was part of framework for trade deal but did not share details on transferring app’s ownership Murdoch, Ellison and China: what we know about the US’s TikTok deal US treasury secretary Scott Bessent claimed on Sunday that the US and China have finalized the details of a deal transferring TikTok’s US…
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Money, muscles and anxiety: why the manosphere clicked with young men – a visual deep dive
October 21, 2025
The manosphere is known for misogyny, but that’s not the only thing that influencers in this space offer. Young men explain the allure and the problems of the manosphere in their own words Continue reading…
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UK MPs urged to investigate TikTok’s plans to cut 439 content moderator jobs
October 13, 2025
Trade unions and online safety experts sign letter warning jobs losses could expose children to harmful content Trade unions and online safety experts have urged MPs to investigate TikTok’s plans to make hundreds of jobs for UK-based content moderators redundant. The video app company is planning 439 redundancies in its trust and safety team in…
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TikTok ‘directs child accounts to pornographic content within a few clicks’
October 3, 2025
Despite platform’s limits on adult content, study finds it not only accessible but often suggested TikTok has directed children’s accounts to pornographic content within a small number of clicks, according to a report by a campaign group. Global Witness set up fake accounts using a 13-year-old’s birth date and turned on the video app’s “restricted…
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Is TikTok about to go full Maga? – podcast
October 3, 2025
Investigative journalist Emily Baker-White on the deal to transfer TikTok’s US operations to Trump allies Last week, Donald Trump signed an executive order approving a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the US. The $14bn deal, if finalised, would see the transfer of TikTok’s US operation from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to a…
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Abu Dhabi royal family to take stake in TikTok US under Trump deal
September 26, 2025
MGX, chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will take 15% stake, with social media firm valued at $14bn Trump signs executive order to transfer TikTok to US owners The Abu Dhabi royal family is to take a stake in TikTok’s US business after Donald Trump signed an executive order brokering a deal valuing…
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Murdoch’s TikTok? Trump offers allies another lever of media control
September 25, 2025
Under the known terms of the deal with China, TikTok would get a new board, including Murdochs and Ellisons Donald Trump revealed last week the US and China are close to inking a deal to let TikTok continue operating in the US. Details are not final, but should the agreement go through as has been…
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Australia may have to choose between a Chinese TikTok and one owned by Trump’s billionaire backers
September 24, 2025
Expert raises concerns about what US TikTok deal could mean for News Corp’s ‘worrying dominance’ in Australian media Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Would you rather a Chinese-owned TikTok or one run by a consortium of Trump-supporting billionaires? That’s the…
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‘It’s prime time for rapture talk’: TikTok gets its first ‘world is ending’ moment
September 23, 2025
Evangelical Christians on #RaptureTok are warning others of doom on 23 or 24 September – and sharing how they’re prepping If you believe a vocal cohort of evangelical Christians on social media, consider Tuesday 23 September – or maybe Wednesday 24 September – a wrap on this whole society thing. For the first time, the…
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Murdoch, Ellison and China: what we know about the US’s TikTok deal
September 23, 2025
TikTok’s future in the US has been in limbo for over year, but the Trump administration has signaled a deal is coming For a week, the White House has signaled that a deal to transfer ownership of TikTok to a US company is forthcoming. Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week…
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