Tag: TikTok

Over the past year, financial influencers (“FinFluencers”) have become increasingly prominent on social media, particularly on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). These platforms have evolved in their content dynamics, user engagement, and regulatory environment, making them central to the dissemination of financial advice and market sentiment. This report analyzes the roles, reach, and key trends of finfluencers on TikTok and X

Trump’s pledge to ‘save TikTok’ by proposing a U.S. government stake in the platform signals a dramatic shift in the regulatory approach to foreign-owned tech companies. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s demand for reciprocal access to China for X adds a global dimension to the debate, setting the stage for a pivotal moment in digital trade relations.

The US is edging closer to a definitive ban on TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app that has dominated global digital culture. Despite a surprising show of goodwill from incoming President Donald Trump, the odds on prediction markets like Polymarket suggest a 67% likelihood of a ban before May 2025. This looming threat raises urgent questions.

The recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has sent shockwaves through the social media industry, upholding a law that could effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. The ruling cited national security concerns. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between the U.S. government and Chinese-owned tech companies.

TikTok parent ByteDance is making waves in global markets with a self-valuation of $300 billion following a recent share buyback program. While the company expands its revenue and investor offerings, legal challenges in the U.S. continue to loom over its future. Investors betting on ByteDance are not just buying into a $300 billion valuation—they’re also navigating the uncertainties of regulatory compliance and market volatility.

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging a new law that mandates the sale of the social media platform due to national security concerns. The law, signed by President Biden on April 24, requires TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer within nine months, with a potential one-year extension, or face a ban enforced by U.S. app stores and web hosting services.

Steven Mnuchin, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary, has publicly expressed his intention to spearhead an acquisition bid for the social media platform TikTok. This announcement, made during an interview with CNBC, follows closely on the heels of legislative developments where the House passed a measure that could potentially ban TikTok in the U.S. or force its parent Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell it to an American entity.

Facebook parent Meta Platforms posted its first decline in revenue and issued a muted outlook on its digital advertising revenues. The US social media giant continues to lose market shares to its fast-growing Chinese competitor TikTok. The company reported quarterly revenue of $28.8 billion, down almost 1% from a year earlier and slightly below the $28.9 billion analysts expected. It is the first time the social media giant posted a quarterly revenue drop from the previous year.

The future of financial marketing certainly lies in social media and the so-called financial influencers. In addition to Instagram, TikTok, in particular, is enjoying increasing popularity among providers of financial services. Most recently, Revolut, one of the unicorns, proudly pointed out its success in social media and TikTok. The company worked with influencers such as Liam Payne, Anthony Joshua, and Simon Wilson and grew its social media following to more than 1.4 million followers. Lately, it has launched a TikTok account, which more than 260,000 people follow.

Social media are powerful tools for scammers to chase victims. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms have agreed to abide by tougher EU standards for policing online postings, WSJ reports. Big tech companies will also face tougher rules under the coming US digital-content law. Under the new EU code of practice, social media platforms will be expected to take steps to prevent advertising intentionally false or misleading information. Platforms will also be expected to provide users with more tools for identifying such content online.

Social media is a powerful marketing tool, and influencers are the name of the game. The best influencers on Instagram and TikTok earn millions. Regulated financial institutions and scammers deploy influencers to chase after clients and victims, respectively. Lately, the UK FCA has taken action against Freetrade and ordered the regulated broker to remove all paid-for sponsored influencer advertisements and posts across all social media platforms, including without limitation Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.