Discover the history of TikTok: what it is, how it came to be, and why it has become one of the most used social media platforms today.
We wouldn’t be wrong to say that TikTok, the Chinese social media stage that lets you record, edit, and share short videos. Will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the months (and years) to come. But since we probably don’t all remember what it is. How it works, and why it will be essential to the future evolution of social media, we offer a summary of its history: the history of TikTok.
What is TikTok? Is it a successful app of Chinese origin?
You could say that the Chinese social network has adopted the best of Instagram, Facebook, X, and even Vine (the X app that shut down a few years ago), merging their strengths and establishing itself as one of the most used mobile apps today by young people and teenagers.
TikTok is an app where we can find fun looping videos with contemporary music and hundreds of visual filters, animated backgrounds, and sound effects. It’s the ideal space for users immersed in instant messaging and eager to share videos with their peers. Initially less than a minute long, they can now be up to ten minutes long since 2022.
Among the most shared content on TikTok are music videos or, occasionally. Lip-sync montages, comedy videos with filters, duets between users, challenges, and countless other combinations, all with an immediate impact. Additionally, it’s increasingly common to see companies implementing their branding strategies on TikTok to promote their products. Organizations like the United Nations use the platform to raise mindfulness about serious issues, such as world hunger and global warming, by promoting challenges like #danceforchange.
However, TikTok has not only proven to be a robust social network, but thanks to its features, it’s also ideal for inspiration and discovery. This is particularly popular among younger generations, who have already become accustomed to conducting searches on this social network rather than the classic Google search engine.
ByteDance, the origin of the TikTok story
In reality, TikTok’s history isn’t as long as Facebook’s or as eventful as X’s origins, but it’s a success story in its own right. We go back to 2016 to mention ByteDance, the Chinese tech company that launched the app in its local market, first as A.me (September 2016) and then as Douyin (December 2016). It wasn’t until a year later that it was thrown in most markets outside of mainland China under TikTok.
That same year, in 2017, TikTok acquired Musical.ly for $1 billion. This was another Chinese social network that also specialized in video creation and live broadcasts, allowing its operators to create videos between 15 and 60 seconds long using various filters. Effects, and speed options. However, it wasn’t until August 2, 2018, that the results of the merger between TikTok and Musical.ly (which would retain the TikTok name) were published, and the accounts, content, and followers of users (as Musical.ly users called themselves) were automatically transferred to the new app.
Despite TikTok’s enormous success, its debut was met with a mild boycott from users. Angry at the news that their beloved platform was disappearing and being merged with another, they expressed their dissatisfaction in comments on the Google Play Store. This fact is a curious anecdote today, given how the Chinese social network managed to win users’ sympathy and become one of the most popular networks today.
In 2018, it became one of the most downloaded mobile apps in the United States, thanks in part to the endorsements it received from well-known celebrities. For example, Jimmy Fallon (a renowned American comedian) mentioned the app during one of his shows.
Thanks to this initiative and many others, the app achieved resounding success. By the end of 2018, it had already accumulated over 80 million downloads in the United States and 800 million worldwide. It was available in 75 languages and was sold in over 150 markets worldwide. Soon after, TikTok had more registered users than Twitter or Snapchat and 1.5 billion downloads worldwide.
As expected, other social networks quickly copied its successful formats, with apps like Byte, Reels (an Instagram feature that meets all the requirements to be considered a TikTok clone), and Singapore-based Likee.
Stories come to TikTok.
Although it’s said that TikTok has inspired more than one social network to create new features and try to capitalize on its success, the truth is that TikTok itself has made the same mistake on more than one occasion.
In March 2022, the Chinese social network announced the launch of TikTok Stories, which works similarly to Instagram Stories. Stories posted on TikTok can be viewed directly on a user’s profile by tapping their profile picture. They can also be marked as “likes,” lasting 24 hours. Afterwards, they automatically disappear.
TikTok Now, the answer to unseating BeReal
Just when it seemed that nothing could tarnish TikTok’s reign, a rival emerged, a simple network that threatened to monopolize the attention of all its users: BeReal. In 2022, this French social network topped the iOS download charts in the United States and Spain. TikTok could not resist such a threat, so it implemented the inspiring tactic we mentioned earlier.
In September 2022, a new TikTok Now app was launched, surprising users who weren’t expecting a standalone app. It worked very similarly to BeReal: users received a daily notification and had to upload a photo or a 10-second video using both their mobile device’s front and rear cameras.
Among the promotional actions developed by TikTok to increase the popularity of TikTok Now, the referral campaign launched in November 2022 stands out. With it, new users could earn up to €7 by signing up for the app and a maximum of €7 more for each new user who used their code to join TikTok Now.
Finally, in June 2023, TikTok announced it would shut down the app. While no explanation was provided, this decision was likely due to users losing interest in experiences like TikTok Now or BeReal.
TikTok and online sales
But TikTok has also branched out into e-commerce: in early 2021. It announced a partnership with Shopify. One of the world’s most popular online shopping platforms, to boost business and brand development within its social network by optimizing its advertising strategies. Shortly after, TikTok took another step in this alliance, moving even closer to becoming an e-commerce platform. With this new integration, the social network planned to offer its users a new e-commerce experience in the form of a new shopping tab on the profiles of brands or businesses on Shopify.
TikTok also ventured into the world of live commerce with its TikTok Shop initiative, although it didn’t last long. Given the success of this formula in China (in 2021, Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Managed to generate $119 billion in product sales) the platform hoped to achieve similar results in the rest of the world. Starting with the United Kingdom.
However, results in the country were sparse. In the summer of 2022. A change of direction in its plans to enter the world of live commerce was announced. Which slowed the arrival of TikTok Shop in other European countries (Germany. Spain. France. And Italy) and the United States. Later, in January 2023, it was announced that TikTok Shop was imminent in Spain and 10 other countries. But the social network delayed its plans again, and this launch has not yet taken place.
In August 2023, the platform launched Fulfilled by TikTok in the UK. A service that manages all the logistics merchants and brands need, from warehousing to shipping. Allowing them to delegate these tasks and focus their efforts on marketing and product development.
TikTok Shop hurled in the US in September 2023 via a dedicated shopping tab integrated into the “For You” and “Following” sections. Users can search for crops, filter by category. Discover items through recommendations, make real-time purchases, manage orders, and access creator affiliate programs.
Crusades against TikTok
Success brings many benefits, but it also breeds doubt. This is what Meta is experiencing with TikTok. Facebook’s parent company is unhappy that another network is capturing the public’s attention, especially among younger users. So much so that in 2022, Meta reportedly funded a campaign to discredit the Chinese social network.
To do this, it reportedly hired the services of Targeted Victory. A reputable consulting firm with ties to the Republican Party. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said, “We believe all platforms, including TikTok. Should be subject to a level of scrutiny commensurate with their growing success.” However. Internal Targeted Victory emails obtained by The Washington Post revealed that part of Targeted Victory’s strategy was to blame TikTok for the dangerous trends that had emerged on its apps.
According to an exclusive published by the Washington Post. The goal was to make TikTok appear “a danger to American children and young people” and encourage politicians to take action against the social network. Moreover, the US government had already monitored TikTok before Meta launched this campaign.
The US government accuses TikTok of spying.
In 2020, Donald Trump banned ByteDance from operating, a move that was forgotten when Joe Biden took office. However, the Chinese social network is once again in the spotlight.
In December 2022. It was discovered that ByteDance employees had accessed data from American journalists from Forbes magazine investigating the company’s US branch’s ties to China. ByteDance eventually admitted to the operation, dubbed Project Raven, and fired the internal auditor and two staff members.
In January 2023, the US House of Representatives banned employees from installing TikTok on federal government devices except for research. Catherine Szpindor, chief administrative officer of the US Congress, cited a “security risk” as the reason for this measure. Suggesting that TikTok could be an espionage tool used by the Chinese government. Particularly the Communist Party. This led some 19 states to apply the same ban to their employees.
TikTok ban extends to the European Commission and other countries
The European Commission quickly followed suit. Citing cybersecurity concerns. In February 2023. The installation of the app on official or personal devices of employees using it for work-related purposes was banned.
Other countries where TikTok has been banned or restricted due to concerns that it could be used for censorship. Political propaganda, or to collect user data include Great Britain. Denmark. Canada, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, the app has been banned for at least three years in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
TikTok, the app to beat in 2024
According to the latest data from the Digital 2024 report. Prepared by We Are Social and Meltwater. TikTok currently has 1.562 billion monthly active users and is the world’s fifth most-used social network.
The app has dramatically impacted young people, as they spend the most time sharing their dances, challenges, and trends. According to the latest data from the Digital 2024 report, TikTok ranks fifth among users’ favourite social networks (7.4%). And, if we differentiate by age group. It is precisely young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who choose TikTok as their preferred platform. It is determine by 14.7% of women and 9.1% of men of these ages.
The platform continues to grow daily, both in number of users and popularity. Brands should consider this app to reach TikTok’s extensive audience. Gen Z, by capitalizing on current trends and building lasting relationships with their audience.