TikTok Ban: Latest News and Updates

Week in Review: TikTok Ban and its Aftermath

Welcome to this week’s review of key events. We'll be examining the consequences of the impending TikTok prohibition within the United States. This includes the movement of users to the Chinese application RedNote, a notable increase in Mandarin language learning on Duolingo, and further developments.

TikTok Ban Upheld by the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has affirmed the legality of the legislation that will effectively prohibit TikTok starting tomorrow. This ruling concludes TikTok’s extended legal challenge against a law mandating its closure or the divestiture of its U.S. assets. From Sunday onward, the distribution of TikTok through app stores and internet hosting providers will be unlawful.

The company has cautioned that the application will “cease functioning” on Sunday. However, the precise implications of the ban’s implementation remain uncertain.

Rise of RedNote as a TikTok Alternative

U.S. users are increasingly turning to RedNote, a Chinese short-form video platform also known as Xiaohongshu. It has currently reached the position of the top free application on the U.S. App Store.

RedNote offers several appealing features for creators seeking a substitute for TikTok. Its interface shares similarities with Pinterest, it is often considered the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, and it incorporates various social commerce functionalities. However, adapting to the new platform has presented challenges for some individuals.

Duolingo Sees Surge in Mandarin Learners

An increasing number of TikTok users are utilizing Duolingo to study the Chinese language. This trend coincides with the growing adoption of RedNote in anticipation of the TikTok ban. Duolingo reports approximately a 216% increase in new Mandarin learners in the U.S. compared to the same period last year.

A significant surge in interest was observed in mid-January, coinciding with the rising popularity of RedNote.

This is TechCrunch’s Week in Review, a summary of the most significant news stories. Would you like to receive this as a newsletter delivered to your inbox every Saturday? Register here.

Recent Tech Developments

Mark Cuban's Investment in a TikTok Alternative: The prominent entrepreneur and investor, Mark Cuban, has expressed his willingness to provide funding for a new social media platform designed to rival TikTok. This potential competitor would be constructed utilizing the AT Protocol, the same technology that powers the Bluesky social network, potentially fostering a more open and decentralized social web.

New Apps and Features

Bluesky's Upcoming Photo-Sharing Application: Development is underway on Flashes, a dedicated photo-sharing app specifically for the Bluesky platform. This app aims to capitalize on the increasing demand for alternatives to the dominant social media platforms controlled by large technology companies.

ChatGPT's New Task Scheduling Capability: OpenAI has introduced a beta feature called Tasks, enabling paying ChatGPT users to delegate scheduling and recurring requests to the AI assistant. This expands the functionality of ChatGPT beyond simple conversation.

A Guide to Disconnecting from Meta: Following Meta's adjustments to its content moderation policies and the removal of its third-party fact-checking system, interest in deleting accounts from Facebook, Instagram, and Threads has risen. A comprehensive guide has been created to assist users in this process.

Data Security and Corporate Updates

UnitedHealth's Delayed Breach Notification: Change Healthcare, impacted by a significant ransomware attack last year that compromised the data of over 100 million individuals, has completed its notification process. However, investigations revealed that UnitedHealth deliberately delayed publicizing the data breach for several months.

Nintendo Reveals the Next-Generation Switch: Nintendo has unveiled initial images of its forthcoming console, the successor to the popular Nintendo Switch. The new device features a larger screen, redesigned Joy-Con controllers, and a more subdued aesthetic compared to its predecessor.

Sonos CEO Departs Following Software Issues: Patrick Spence has stepped down as CEO of Sonos after eight years, following a problematic software update that introduced numerous bugs and removed established features.

Exploring TikTok Alternatives

Finding Alternatives to TikTok: While a direct replacement for TikTok remains elusive, several apps offer comparable experiences. A curated list of potential alternatives has been compiled for users seeking options.

AI Behavior and Apple's Adjustments

AI Responsiveness and "Friendliness Tuning": Google's NotebookLM experienced issues with its AI-generated podcast feature, exhibiting an "adversarial" and abrupt tone when interrupted during live calls, necessitating adjustments to improve its user interaction.

Apple Pauses AI-Powered Notification Summaries: Due to inaccuracies in news alerts generated by its AI-powered notification summaries in news and entertainment applications, Apple has temporarily halted the feature. Changes are being implemented to enhance transparency and accuracy.

News Partnerships and Innovative Apps

OpenAI's Collaboration with Axios: Axios has partnered with OpenAI, with OpenAI providing funding for the expansion of Axios’ local newsletter coverage into four new cities: Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Boulder, and Huntsville.

Steppin: Linking Physical Activity to Screen Time: A new iOS application, Steppin, restricts access to social media apps until users achieve a predetermined daily step count, incentivizing physical activity.