Technology

TikTok Shop launched in the U.S. in September.

TikTok Shop is taking on Amazon — one viral video at a time

7:43am February 08, 2024

by Emma Klein

TikTok has surged into the e-commerce space, positioning itself as a kind of Amazon for the social media age. Analysts say it might work, but users and sellers are asking: At what price?

Dozens of passengers on board the Royal Caribbean's nine-month "Ultimate World Cruise" have gone viral on TikTok since it set sail in December. Captivated viewers are comparing it to a social media reality show.

Arts

How a world cruise became a 'TikTok reality show' — and what happened next

6:00am February 08, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

They boarded a nine-month cruise around the world. Then they went viral. Here's what some of the "Ultimate World Cruise" TikTokers want viewers to know about the reality of life on board.

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What a robocall of Biden's AI-generated voice could mean for the 2024 election

5:27pm February 07, 2024

by Miles Parks

A robocall in New Hampshire's primary that urged people not to cast ballots appeared to be an AI-generated clone of President Biden's voice. What does that signal for the 2024 election?

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During a Summer Science Safari demonstration at Texas A&M University in 2022, Dr. Tatiana hits a knife down to make the potato go up. It's not magic, it's inertia.

Science experiments and endless enthusiasm led a physics professor to TikTok stardom

6:06pm February 05, 2024

by Emma Bowman

Videos of Tatiana Erukhimova's enthusiastic teaching style have gone viral on social media. The secret to her success? It didn't happen overnight.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before a Senate committee in Washington on Wednesday.

Tom Cotton grills Singaporean TikTok CEO: Are you a Chinese Communist?

6:47pm February 01, 2024

by Diba Mohtasham

TikTok faced scrutiny Wednesday along with other social media sites over child safety. But its Singaporean CEO was grilled over his nationality when a senator repeatedly asked whether he has CCP ties.

TikTok removes music from UMG artists, including Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift

12:14pm February 01, 2024

TikTok has removed all Universal Music Group music from its platform, according to a spokesperson for the company. UMG argues, among other things, that TikTok is not compensating its artists fairly.

Politics & Government

Capitol Hill lawmakers tell tech CEOs that they have failed to protect children

5:04am February 01, 2024

Following a contentious Senate hearing, NPR's Michel Martin talks with Dr. Megan Moreno of the American Academy of Pediatrics about online threats to a child's mental well-being.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the dangers of child sexual exploitation on social media, including Meta's Facebook and Instagram.

Politics & Government

'You have blood on your hands,' Senator tells Mark Zuckerberg for failing kids online

9:09pm January 31, 2024

by Dara Kerr

The top tech executives from Meta, X, TikTok, Snap and Discord get the fifth degree from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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Have a seat on my couch: When the beloved children's character Elmo asked people how they were doing, the responses came from far beyond Sesame Street.

Elmo takes a turn as a therapist after asking, 'How is everybody doing?'

7:22pm January 31, 2024

by Bill Chappell

When the beloved red Muppet asked people how they were doing, they responded with honesty — and, in some cases, despair. Elmo replied to many messages with encouragement and empathy.

Lawmakers grilled the CEOs of top social media companies in a hearing today

5:21pm January 31, 2024

by Dara Kerr

During a contentious hearing, lawmakers demanded that social media companies do better to protect children online.

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