SOCIAL
TikTok Pauses US Security Deal Amid Rising Questions About the App’s Connection with the CCP
Amid ongoing bans of the app within government-related organizations, and lingering questions about the CCPs influence over its operations, TikTok’s future in the US is looking increasingly shaky. And this latest update doesn’t, on the face of it, bode well for its future.
According to Reuters, TikTok has paused its hiring process for a group of US-based consultants that would help to implement the final requirements of its potential security agreement with the US Government.
Just before Christmas, TikTok, which has been under investigation by the Committee for Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) for years, had appeared to be close to a securing final sign-off on a deal that would ensure its ongoing operation in the US. But around the same time, reports emerged that TikTok’s parent company ByteDance had been spying on several American journalists, via TikTok, due to concerns that these journalists had been in contact with ByteDance staff, and had gained access to commercially sensitive information.
This, combined with the ongoing bans on government-affiliated accounts, which are spreading through the US, and ongoing warnings about the app from top security personnel, seems to have stuttered the deal’s progress. Which could have big implications for TikTok moving forward.
Indeed, 19 US states have now at least partially blocked TikTok access on government devices, while representatives from the FBI and the FCC have called for a full ban of the app due to ongoing concerns about Chinese Government interference.
The reports of alleged spying, undermining all of TikTok’s many assurances to US officials, seems to have sparked more significant hesitation among CFIUS and White House decision-makers, to the point where, at least right now, it seems like a potential operational deal may be off.
Which could mean that a TikTok ban, instead, is back on the agenda.
Definitely, the revelations that China-based officials have actually used TikTok as a spying device, in order to monitor US journalists, is a major concern, and investigations are likely underway into exactly how this occurred, and what TikTok knew about such an operation.
If ByteDance has actually utilized TikTok in this way, then it seems likely that all deals will be off, and that sanctions, further restrictions, or entirely new requirements may be imposed on the app.
Could that extend to a full ban of the app in the US, which former US President Donald Trump sought to implement back in 2020?
Looking at the range of considerations, I would say yes – and if TikTok is now halting its $1.5 billion plan to meet the US Government’s demands on this front, that seems like a very real possibility.
There’s still a long way to go, but the mounting concerns do point to an inflection point coming for the app, sometime very soon.
SOCIAL
Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?
In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.
The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.
According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.
Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.
Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.
The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.
This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.
Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.
As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?
Only time will tell.
SOCIAL
Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach
While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.
When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.
“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.
Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.
“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.”Â
“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.
“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.
Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.
SOCIAL
Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement
Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.
As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.
That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.
Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.
That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.
Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.
Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.
We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.
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