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The TikTok news revolution

TikTok became huge by being the app for viral dance videos. But now innovative creators are trying to present news in a way that appeals to its massive young audience.

TikTok became successful by being the app for watching viral dance videos. But with global downloads of the app recently topping three billion, it’s also increasingly a place where users are also going to find news - though not any old news.

While traditional media organisations are struggling to gain a foothold on the platform, a wave of fresh and diverse creators are finding innovative ways to present the news in a style that engages TikTok’s massive young audience.

Trending explores the potential and the pitfalls of news on TikTok. We hear from the journalist who makes comedy videos in which he plays a Covid-19 variant and his dad. And we meet the man who is the biggest star in TikTok news - who despite his fame still has to work other jobs to make ends meet.

Presenter: Jonathan Griffin
Reporter: Abbie Richards
Producer: Matt Munday
Editor: Ed Main
Photo: Collage of TikTok news creators
Photo credit: ±«Óãtv/TikTok

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18 minutes

Last on

Mon 2 Aug 2021 09:32GMT
±«Óãtv World Service

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  • Sat 31 Jul 2021 04:32GMT
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  • Sat 31 Jul 2021 17:32GMT
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  • Sun 1 Aug 2021 00:32GMT
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  • Sun 1 Aug 2021 18:32GMT
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  • Mon 2 Aug 2021 09:32GMT
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    In-depth reporting on the world of social media