It’s unusual to think about a world with out the cultural phenomenon, TikTok.There was as soon as a time when our favourite pastime didn’t contain endlessly scrolling by movies of choreographed dance strikes to the newest Megan Thee Stallion music or “prepare with me” content material that includes a prolonged skincare routine.
However how did it turn into such a beloved app, and why is there speak about banning it?
Don’t fear, GRIN spills all of the tea on this weblog about TikTok’s historical past and what lies forward for the platform.
The rise of TikTok
It felt like TikTok grew to become an in a single day success when everybody was caught at dwelling in 2020. Apart from enjoying Animal Crossing, folks spent all their time creating or watching movies on TikTok.
5 years later, TikTok has over 1 billion energetic international customers monthly. It’s additionally on tempo to succeed in 2 billion by late 2025. If it does, it’s going to cement its place because the fastest-growing and fourth-most common social media app worldwide.
So, what’s the secret to TikTok’ssuccess? Although it looks as if the app blew up in a single day, it’s been steadily rising since 2016.
That stated, its progress has been meteoric—it’s turn into common quicker than Fb, Instagram, or some other social media platform. To know its success, let’s first take a look at the options that set it aside. Then, we’ll dive into TikTok’s historical past and future.
Why is TikTok common?
TikTok has turn into common around the globe for 2 foremost causes—its algorithm and inventive options.
The hyper-personalized algorithm
TikTok’s algorithm is exclusive. It rapidly learns consumer preferences by AI and machine studying. Then, it analyzes engagement patterns like scrolls, likes, pauses, and watch time to personalize the “For You” feed. This hyper-personalization retains customers engaged longer and encourages viral content material, no matter follower depend.
Prioritizing content material relevance over creator reputation democratizes content material discovery. In brief, it makes it simpler for anybody to go viral. This strategy has pushed speedy consumer progress and excessive engagement, fueling the platform’s rise to international prominence.
Artistic results and filters
Secondly, TikTok provides artistic instruments like quirky results, filters, and an intensive music database. It has even helped launch many artists’ careers like Olivia Rodrigo (and sorry if ‘Good for You’ is now caught in your head!).
With these artistic instruments, influencers whip up participating, entertaining content material which makes it so onerous to place the telephone down. Imagine me, I’ve tried!
In truth, the common American consumes 80 minutes of TikTok movies per day—greater than Fb and Instagram. TikTok has advanced a lot that it now hosts an enormous array of communities and classes for any curiosity or pastime you possibly can consider.
TikTok firm historical past
TikTok’s origin story isn’t your typical software program firm story of friendship and romantic rendezvous, although it could make an excellent film plot.
Again in 2014, an app named Musical.ly debuted in Shanghai. Creators would share short-form movies performing comedy sketches or lip-syncing to common songs (sound acquainted?).
In 2016, a Chinese language tech big, ByteDance, launched Douyin, the same app that gained traction in China and Thailand. It amassed 100 million customers inside its first 12 months.
With a purpose for international growth, ByteDance purchased Musical.ly in 2017 and rebranded it as TikTok, which gained reputation worldwide.
This growth marked the start of TikTok’s reputation and its emergence as a social media and cultural phenomenon.
TikTok’s present standing
TikTok’s theme music needs to be Elton John’s ‘I’m Nonetheless Standing’ as a result of regardless of going through backlash and a ban from Congress, it’s nonetheless thriving.
For individuals who don’t know what I’m speaking about—sure, Congress voted to “ban” the social media app. The Trump Administration first initiated a TikTok ban in 2020 with an government order. It claimed that the app shared consumer knowledge with China and was a menace to nationwide safety.
A federal court docket blocked Trump’s government order, citing that he overstepped his presidential authority. Talks of a ban fizzled when Joe Biden grew to become president however returned in 2024. After an investigation, Congress handed a invoice banning TikTok if ByteDance didn’t promote it to an authorised US firm by January 19, 2025.
TikTok shut down for 14 hours on that day. It was again up the subsequent day although. Newly inaugurated Trump signed an government order extending the deadline by 75 days.
Now, TikTok has till April fifth to promote or shut operations in America. Though over 170 million Individuals (over a 3rd of the US inhabitants) use the app, its future is unsure.
However we’ll see how the corporate performs its playing cards.
TikTok and influencer advertising: the right match
As talked about above, TikTok will not be solely nice for leisure functions but additionally a robust software for advertising services or products. With hundreds of thousands of eyes glued to the display screen, there’s immense potential on your firm to seize consideration.
TikTok thrives on genuine influencers who create participating content material that resonates with their audiences. This enables influencers to be artistic and showcase services or products in a real method. This strategy results in larger engagement and conversions in comparison with conventional promoting strategies, in contrast to that loud, low-key, pushy salesperson saying a sale.
The way forward for TikTok
I can’t look right into a crystal ball and predict TikTok’s future. Manufacturers and creators who depend on TikTok ought to anticipate to see modifications both approach.
On one hand, TikTok’s reign within the US might finish. In line with ByteDance, over 80% of its income comes from China and Douyin. It additionally reveals speedy progress in different international locations, so even with out the US, it’s going to stay worthwhile.
If TikTok stays within the US beneath a brand new dad or mum firm, the sale gained’t embody its personalised algorithm. Some argue that it’s the key sauce that makes the app distinctive and priceless, so the general expertise can be totally different.
The US purchaser can be getting a big buyer base and the TikTok model—that’s it. Manufacturers and creators can put together for TikTok’s future by diversifying their social media technique. For instance, share extra short-form movies on YouTube.
TikTok timeline
Here’s a TikTok timeline highlighting key moments:
2014: Chinese language entrepreneur Alex Zhu launches Musical.ly, a video app the place customers lip-sync music.
2016: In China, ByteDance—TikTok’s dad or mum firm—launches Douyin, an app for sharing short-form movies.
September 2017: The corporate rebrands the app as TikTok to increase internationally. (In China, TikTok continues to be known as Douyin).
November 2017: ByteDance buys Musical.ly for $1 billion.
August 2018: ByteDance merges Musical.ly with TikTok and rises in international reputation.
February 2019: TikTok reaches over 1 billion downloads worldwide and begins quietly experimenting with adverts. The US Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) fines TikTok $5.7 million for gathering kids’s knowledge.
2020: TikTok’s reputation surges as individuals are caught at dwelling in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the US, the app positive factors over 100 million month-to-month energetic customers, many Gen Z. International locations elevate issues concerning the app’s knowledge privateness and safety.
June 2020: The social media app formally launches its promoting platform TikTok for Enterprise.
August 2020: The Trump Administration indicators an government order trying to ban TikTok within the US or power a sale to a US firm. The order cites issues that ByteDance shares consumer knowledge with China.
December 2020: Federal courts block Trump’s government order to ban TikTok. Walmart, Microsoft, and Oracle bid to purchase the app however talks fell by when Trump’s presidency ended. ByteDance agrees to retailer US consumer knowledge within the Oracle Cloud to handle nationwide safety issues.
2021: The Biden Administration reverses Trumps ban on TikTok however orders an investigation into the app’s safety dangers.
September 2021: TikTok reaches 1 billion month-to-month energetic customers worldwide quicker than some other social media app.
2023: TikTok’s reputation grows because it refines its algorithm and provides options like video modifying and AR filters.
September 2023: TikTok Store launches within the US. Customers can now store instantly from manufacturers and creators with out leaving the app.
December 2023: TikTok’s Creativity Program replaces the Creator Fund—a program that paid choose TikTokers for his or her video views. This system claims to pay extra to creators who share high-quality, longer-form movies.
2024: After investigation, the US Senate passes the invoice to ban TikTok until ByteDance sells it to an authorised US entity.
January 19, 2025: Forward of the ban deadline, TikTok goes darkish within the US for 14 hours.
January 20, 2025: Newly inaugurated Trump indicators an government order that pauses the TikTok ban and extends the deadline 75 days (April 5). February 2025: TikTok visitors returns to regular regardless of its temporary blackout and unsure future. An estimated 170 million Individuals use the app.
Key takeaway: Regardless of a shaky future, TikTok continues to be a must-use platform for entrepreneurs.
TikTok has been the world’s fastest-growing program and confirmed to have large shopping for energy with audiences—particularly Gen Z. Regardless of speak of a possible ban, we’re nonetheless recommending a full-steam-ahead strategy for entrepreneurs seeking to “make it” on the platform.
