The European Union is preparing new rules aimed at shielding children from addictive and manipulative social media design. The European Commission plans to propose a Digital Fairness Act later this year, targeting harmful features that keep young users engaged. The goal: reduce risks to children’s wellbeing by limiting practices that exploit attention and vulnerability.
TikTok is moving beyond showing content and into completing transactions, aiming to let users book trips they discover in-feed. By turning its discovery engine into a transaction layer, the platform can keep people engaged longer while creating fresh revenue opportunities for its new owners across travel and commerce.
Your news, in seconds
Get the Beige app — every story in 60 words, updated hourly. Free on iOS & Android.
TikTok has challenged its EU “gatekeeper” status, arguing it doesn’t meet the Digital Markets Act’s strict eligibility criteria. The outcome could reshape how regulators apply DMA obligations to major platforms across Europe. A court decision is expected in the coming months, making this dispute a potential turning point for big tech oversight.
TikTok has launched an ad-free subscription plan in the UK, letting subscribers browse without seeing ads. The company also says it will not use their data for advertising purposes, aiming to separate personal activity from ad targeting. The move tests whether users will pay to avoid ads and whether regulators and privacy expectations are reshaping social platforms’ revenue models.
The US government is reported to be close to a roughly $400 million settlement with TikTok over alleged violations of child privacy laws. The claims say TikTok collected children’s data without parental consent. Reports also suggest the money may be directed toward President Trump’s beautification efforts in Washington, adding political controversy to the legal outcome.
After Spirit Airlines’ abrupt weekend collapse, a TikToker created a quick crowdfunding-style website to rally pledges to buy the airline. He called it a “janky” one-hour build, yet by Sunday 36,000 “founding patrons” had pledged nearly $23 million—overwhelming his servers in the process.
Never miss a story
Set alerts for the topics and sources you care about. Download Beige for free.
TikTok has rolled out a new “Campus Hub” aimed at helping students stay connected to their college communities, even when they’re away for the summer. The hub brings dedicated college group chats alongside personalized feeds, designed to surface campus-focused content and conversations in one place.
The Irish Supreme Court has ruled that TikTok may continue transferring EU user data to China while it appeals a regulator’s order to halt the practice. The regulator previously fined TikTok over privacy concerns, but the court’s temporary decision gives the platform time to challenge the ruling during the appeal process.
Australia’s new law blocking social media access for under-16s hasn’t produced a noticeable change in user behavior, according to government reporting. Major platforms remain dominant in app rankings, while cyberbullying has increased, with TikTok frequently linked to incidents. Other countries are closely watching Australia’s results as they consider similar steps.
Noah Beck’s mother, Amy, has been placed on paid administrative leave after a controversial TikTok video resurfaced, prompting renewed scrutiny by her school district. In a separate case, Noah’s sister, Haley Beck, was dismissed from her teaching role amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship and alleged sexual encounters involving a teenage student.
Reading on mobile?
Open Beige in the app for a smoother experience — free on iOS and Android.
Australia says it will introduce legislation by July 2 to impose a 2.25% revenue tax on Meta, Google, and TikTok unless they strike agreements to fund local journalism. The plan is designed to keep money flowing to newsrooms and support reporters, with the government expecting meaningful annual revenue to strengthen democratic information.
California is advancing legislation that would prohibit children under 16 from using major social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, citing addictive design features. The proposal could set a template for other states, including Massachusetts, which are also considering similar restrictions. The debate is gaining national attention, with former President Donald Trump expressing interest in a broader ban.
India’s homegrown short video apps surged during the pandemic and after TikTok’s exit, but many are now struggling to retain users. Subscriber numbers are declining even as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts keep expanding their reach. The report points to where Indian apps are lagging as audience habits shift toward bigger platforms and tighter algorithms.
Swipe through stories, personalise your feed, and save articles for later — all on the app.