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Internet TodaySoftware Sensations

Why Snapchat Is Becoming More Popular Than Other Platforms

SocialMedia

Teens are known to be the people who primarily use social media; there are various social media platforms that teens use for fun and even catching up with friends and family by creating memories. If you are updated, you must know the relationship between Snapchat and teens; lately, Snapchat is becoming more popular than TikTok and Instagram. Everyone is asking themselves, why is this happening? This app is changing the way people use social media in many different ways, and that is why you find that even marketers are currently marketing their products using Snapchat. Here are the reasons why Snapchat is becoming the talk of town more than the others:

Snapchat Creates The Urgency Sense

The main difference between Snapchat and other social media platforms is the fleeting nature of the content. Unlike Tiktok and Instagram, where you have to constantly check on the app daily to stay updated with your friends' content, Snapchat allows teens to view their close friends' snaps and chats within ten seconds and stay up to date. Moreover, the content friends share in their stories can disappear after 24 hours of posting.

This nature of the app allows people to share stories of their current situations that they would not want to stay in their lives forever. Simple things like the people you hang out with while having dinner, what you ate, and whatever happened over the day. For this reason, you will find Snapchat and teens being one.

Encourages sharing of full stories rather than highlights

Daily users are likely to spend about 25 to 30 minutes on Snapchat daily; you should not be surprised to know that they get a lot of content from that. It is common for peers to share at least ten moments a day from when they woke up until they slept. For instance, if you take a trip, you might want to take your friends along virtually, and every moment you share, they find it in full rather than just a highlight of their trip.

Live without ads

Snapchat is among the few platforms where you can share live news without ads appearing or popping up every moment. It gives users choices when to view brands' content, thus enabling the selected brands to promote their products and content through Snapchat's Discover. This tab can quickly draw an audience of about 40 million people within 24 hours, and here you will promote whatever you want without disruption.

Internet TodaySoftware Sensations

Tiktok Alternatives You Should Know

TiktokAlternatives

Tiktok is the most popular video-sharing app, with millions of users; however, you may have heard about the fire that has engulfed this app. Recently, the United States threatened to ban the app; this means that brands and individuals who rely on it should be prepared for anything, or consider Tiktok Alternatives. Fortunately, TikTok's fame inspired people to create other apps that work exactly like TikTok, in that if the app is banned, you can find other apps where you can share your videos. Here are some Tiktok alternatives and some information about them:


How many governments have banned Tiktok in the US?


As of February 2021, there are no US governments that have banned TikTok. However, there have been efforts by the US government to regulate and limit the use of the app.


Have state governments banned Tiktok from being used on state owned devices?


Yes, some state governments have banned the use of TikTok on state-owned devices. In October 2020, the state of Arkansas banned the use of TikTok on all state-owned devices. Similarly, the state of Utah has prohibited the use of the app on any devices purchased with state funds.


Any colleges and universities banning Tiktok on their school wifi networks?


Yes, some colleges and universities have banned the use of TikTok on their school wifi networks. For example, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and the University of South Carolina have all banned the app on their networks.


Clapper

Clapper, like TikTok, is a rapidly growing social media platform that allows users to share their ideas, lives, and content in the form of short videos. There's more to this app; if you read the app store descriptions, you'll see that it doesn't have ads, it's free to use, and there's no BS; it's all about real people. Once you've made your own, you'll be able to see other people's opinions, express your own support or opposition, and allow others to do the same.

The app is intended to allow users to give speeches with less restraint than competitors. It's similar to TikTok in that you can make money here; it has a monetization feature that allows owners to capitalize and charge super fans to view their content.

Fanbase

You've probably heard of Fanbase; it's an app comprised of a public figure's fans; if you're an artist who used TikTok to promote your music, this will serve as an alternative where people can consume your music and even help you track the record, success, and journey of your music. Everyone who follows you on Fanbase will interact with your music and content, giving you feedback and suggestions on how you can improve. You only need to understand your target audience and the social media platforms where the majority of your supporters are active, such as Fanbase.

Likee

Likee is one of the most popular TikTok-like apps; it allows users to share short videos in the same way that TikTok does. It is independent and rapidly growing; you can find it on Android and iOS; it is currently popular in each store; additionally, it has a large and interactive audience that marketers can use to market and advertise their products. Anyone can use the app as long as you create helpful videos that engage your audience. It also includes music and effects that you can use to improve the quality of your videos. It is now one of TikTok's direct competitors.

Business FirstInternet Today

The Tiktok Shopify Partnership In Focus

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The recent announcement of the Tiktok Shopify partnership marks TikTok's continued investment in social commerce. The partnership aims to help Shopify merchants, of which there are over one million, engage with TikTok's youthful audience and generate sales revenue. Ultimately, the venture will grow to encompass additional in app shopping elements too.

Early Days of Tiktok

In the past, TikTok gained notoriety for being a video platform that offered memes and entertainment. Members were not able to purchase items directly on the platform, even though it featured influencers who promoted cosmetics, clothes and domestic products. Rather, members were only able to purchase items on TikTok through adverts on the platform.

Shopify Partnership

This new arrangement permits merchants on Shopify to set up, optimize and run their TikTok advertising campaigns from Shopify's dashboard directly. To do this, they have to install the newly released channel app from TikTok that is available from Shopify's app store. After installation, merchants can take advantage of the functions offered on the 'TikTok For Business' Ads Manager.

Merchants on Shopify have come to realize the importance of discoverability, with social commerce offering the chance for independent companies to boost their brand awareness. The 2021 report from Shopify about the future of commerce revealed that fifty-four percent of younger shoppers across the world find brands through social networks. In addition, Shopify has joined forces with TikTok to introduce product links. Merchants on Shopify will use these links as product tags on TikTok, to send shoppers straight to their online stores from organic posts. Shoppers can opt to purchase from the merchants' stores directly, or click tagged products in merchants' TikTok posts.

Once merchants have set up the one click pixel in their 'TikTok For Business' account, they can activate in feed shoppable video adverts. To create these adverts, merchants simply choose the products they want to promote using templates that are designed specifically for ecommerce. These ad templates feature existing videos or imagery, so the TikTok channel is suitable for merchants of all sizes. To launch their joint venture, TikTok is offering merchants a $300 voucher to spend on their first advertising campaign.

Business FirstInternet Today

TikTok Competitor: Taking A Look At TikTok And Its Closest Rival (Instagram Reel)

InstagramReels

In today's world of social media platforms, TikTok stands tall at the top of the pile. Formerly known as musical.ly, TikTok is as successful as it is for a number of reasons. For starters, the social media platform in its current form fills a void that its predecessors like Vine had left in the social media space. It is, therefore, not difficult to see why the social media app has taken off in popularity the way that it had.

Importantly, it does not hurt that the current TikTok algorithm within the app and the ability to share videos to other major platforms seem to support the viral reach of videos. Even TikTok users that are numbered among "the least of these" will post a video that will get likes, views, comments, and good support. Some go on to be viral, reaching far beyond the app and become Internet phenomenons. Add to that the fact that the tag of the person whose video is being shared remains throughout the duration of the video, and you get users who are eager to use the platform and grow their profiles in the social media space.

A Closer Look At TikTok Competitor Instagram Reels

In many ways (before Facebook bought the app), Instagram had a much freer algorithm where hashtags yielded a greater reach for the content posted by users and the chances of posting viral content were much higher. However, that has significantly changed. As such, other social media apps like TikTok have been allowed to take up space. The competition has forced Instagram to evolve and implement new features. The most recent feature in this evolution is the addition of Reels which are very TikTokesque in how it functions.

Some popular features that IG Reels and TikTok share include stitching together shorter videos that combine to make one video that is designed to promote a particular idea, point, or just for fun. The use of filters, as well as the addition of music, text, voice alterations, and other features, are among the TikTok adaptations used on IG Reels.

It is true that IG Instagram has done well through Reels to ensure that they don't lose a significant portion of their user-base to TikTok by now offering TikTok's appeal right there in the IG app. However, it is hardly likely that this will hurt TikTok in a similar manner that IG Stories arguably hurt Snapchat. For starters, TikTok by design (algorithm and sharability features) plays to the desire for virality that brands, influencers, and other users are looking for with their digital brands.

Internet TodaySoftware Sensations

YouTube Launches Shorts As Competitor To TikTok

YoutubeShorts

YouTube 's new short-form video service, YouTube Shorts, will soon be available in over 100 countries after being trialed in selected markets. It has been developed as a competitor for the popular TikTok platform and was first released in India for beta testing earlier this year where its uptake tripled over several months. YouTube is essentially playing catch-up with its popular TikTok competitor but also aims to integrate its Shorts offering with the wider YouTube platform as a key method for attracting new users and expanding its reach.

YouTube Shorts

The YouTube Shorts service provides functions for producing short video content that are very similar to its TikTok competitor. It allows users to record, edit and share video content that can be up to 60 seconds in length and also allows popular music to be included. Users have access to a range of tools that allow them to start and stop recording with a single tap with the service offering a small number of editing features. These include controls that allow the audio to be sped up or slowed down, a countdown timer, the ability to insert text overlays at chosen points and the ability to adjust colors.

TikTok Comparison

While YouTube shorts offers a convenient tool for choosing music to be used in the video it does not have the automatic sound synchronization feature of TikTok which made the app more accessible and popular with first-time users. In addition, YouTube's offering lacks the wide catalog of special effects that TikTok offers - such as augmented reality functions and the ability to use a green-screen. YouTube Shorts, like Instagram Reels and other competitors, are seeking to make the features of TikTok available to users that want to create and publish short video content on their social media platforms.

Internet TodaySoftware Sensations

US Commerce Department Rescinds TikTok Ban

TikTokUSA

The US Commerce Department has announced that it is rescinding a decision made to place Chinese owned TikTok and WeChat on a list of applications that were prohibited from transactions by US citizens. The ban was issued in September of last year by the Trump administration in a bid to stop any additional downloads of the apps.

Presidential Executive Orders

President Joe Biden recently withdrew a number of executive orders by the previous president that sought to block any new downloads of the apps which are owned by the Chinese company Tencent and ordered the Commerce Department to conduct a review of any security concerns posed by these and other Chinese-made apps. The previous administration had established the so-called 'TikTok ban' in response to concerns about data being gathered on US citizens by China and also sought to ban transactions with other apps, including WeChat, which would have effectively banned their use in the US. WeChat has reportedly been downloaded by more than 19 million users in the US and has become a widely used platform for payments, services and games. Biden's new executive order revokes the bans against WeChat and TikTok as well as against another eight communication and financial software applications.

While Biden's executive order rescinded the bans, it nonetheless directed the Commerce Department to continue monitoring applications like TikTok to determine whether they could impact US national security. It also ordered the department to present recommendations within 120 days that would help to protect US data acquired or made available to companies controlled by other foreign adversaries.

National Security Concerns

TikTok remains one of the world's most popular social media apps and China's foreign ministry welcomed the move as a positive move urging the US to respect the free market and not to use so-called national security concerns to suppress China's tech industry. The effort by the Trump administration to effectively ban various Chinese apps had led to numerous legal challenges which had the effect of heightening tensions between the two countries. Last year a US district court judge granted a temporary injunction to TikTok that blocked the effort to ban downloading the app. At the time Trump had approved a bid by US tech company Oracle (backed by Walmart) to purchase TikTok but the move failed to gain approval from China's regulators. The app is believed to have more than 1 billion users world wide and is particularly popular with younger users.

Internet Today

All You Should Know About The TikTok Money Calculator

Tiktok-in-mobile-phone-130909-pixahive

If you are a tik tok influencer, you might be getting and having the best moments of your life by making a living through creativity and engagement. Tik Tok is among the fast-growing platforms that easily allow people to make money by the number of followers and content. New people to the platform and have gathered enough followers and have engaging content; it is your time to think about how you can earn your living. You can start by estimating how much you can make through the new TikTok money calculator; while most people get confused for their first time to find the correct calculations for their earnings, here is what you need to know about this device:

What is the new TikTok money calcualtor?

This should be the first question that clicks your mind once you think of the device and what you want to get from it; you can answer this if you know what the device is; it can help you calculate your potential earnings derived from every profile that is on your platform. You should know that the calculator is not official, but it is offered by the app, which means it wasn't developed or getting any endorsement from tik tok. It does not give you an exact amount you will earn but gives you an estimation of what you will make from your content.

How does it work?

If you already have the tik tok extension, this will be a simple thing to do; you should start by entering your profile's username, which you intend to calculate, remember it is the username you use but not the official name. After entering the name, you should click on the calculate option, and automatically the extension will calculate and provide the information concerning your earnings and engagements. You should know that the calculations are done differently based on the various information and data available on the user's profile. The necessary details to conclude on the earnings are followers, average comments, score, engagements, shares, and likes. With all this information, the tool will provide you with the estimated earnings per video.

Crime and JusticeInternet Today

Why Is TikTok Being Sued?

TikTokSued

TikTok, the social media app owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is facing a UK lawsuit that could see it forced to pay damages of billions of pounds if it is successful. The lawsuit, brought by legal firm Scott and Scott and backed by a former British children's commissioner, claims that the company collects a huge range of children's personal information when they use the app. As well as harvesting their pictures and videos, it is claimed the app also collects children's phone numbers, specific location details and biometric data which it then sells to third parties for profit.

British Children Data Harvested

Parents and children are likely to be shocked by the revelations, as well as privacy regulators, since the app is used by a huge number of teenagers. According to the UKs media regulator OfCom, it is estimated that almost 45% of children aged between 8 and 12 use the app which represents about 3.5 million children in the UK alone and is likely to be potentially millions more across Europe as a whole.

The lawsuit claims that children's personal information was harvested without explicit consent being gained (which, in the case of children under the age of 18, would need to come from an adult) and constitutes a serious breach of both UK and EU privacy provisions, according to one of the lawyers acting for the plaintiffs in the case.

TikTok Blocked

This is not the first time that the ByteDance's data protection policies have been challenged and Tiktok sued. In 2019 the US Federal Trade Commission levied a record fine of $5.7 million against the company for similar offences of illegally gathering children's personal information. It has also come under scrutiny in India where it was temporarily banned and finally blocked completely from the country. TikTok is also under investigation by the UK Information Commissioner's Office for whether it complies with the UK's data protection rules and whether it protects children's right to data privacy with a report expected later in the year.

TikTok claims that it is only intended for users over the age of 13 but it is claimed that the app is being used by much younger children since all they need to do is enter an older age as there is no additional checking performed by the app. Lawyers are seeking thousands of pounds of compensation for each child, seeking that the app meet its user age requirements as well as demanding that the company provide full transparency about the data it collects and the purposes it is used for.

Internet Today

Getting Career Advice On TikTok

j.t.odonnell

Social networking has been made easier with the emergence of various media platforms such as TikTok. TikTok is currently a global app that allows people to record and share short videos about any topic. Just like any other social media platform, TikTok provides a wide range of content and new leads that one can use to advance a career.

Trend on TikTok that Provides Career Advice

TikTok is now accelerating from just fulfilling entertainment needs to providing career guidance and advice. #CareerAdvice is now a growing trend on TikTok. We have various individuals now coming on board to guide young job seekers on navigating their careers and maximizing their potential. Older individuals who wish to advance their careers or pursue new careers now have a home on TikTok.

Different Kinds of Videos you Can Find with A Job and Interview Advice


TikTok is now a popular social media platform that has attracted career coaches to make use of it. There exist various kinds of videos on career advice to choose from. These videos come with different titles that, upon identifying them, one can access job or interview advice. These titles might include making your resume stand out, writing a professional email, a guide on the first job interview, common interview questions, and many other titles.

Companies that are Finding New Workers from TikTok

Companies are now recruiting interns and workers through TikTok. For instance, various clothing brands often partner with TikTok to come up with a challenge where people post videos promoting a certain brand. Individuals with the most viewed videos get hired as brand agents. As individuals share content, Freelance companies can identify content creators on various topics. The creative industry is using TikTok to recruit different creative skills that could be nurtured for economic gains.

Some of the most Popular Channels with Job Advice

TikTok career advice has several popular channels created by career coaches who give job advice through short videos. For example, @j.t.odonell is one of the popular TikTok channels that offer job search tips, resumes, changing your career, among others. @youknowitjulian on TikTok is a channel that provides career development content such as tips on salary negotiation. Besides, @shadezahrai is also a popular channel that provides a guideline on interviews, among other career tips.

Internet Today

A Look at TikTok's New Ecommerce Features

eCommerce

Developed and launched in 2016 by ByteDance, TikTok is a social media application that allows users to share short videos. In early 2020, TikTok gained massive popularity across the globe, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that triggered the social isolation and lockdown policies. While this application was solely meant for entertainment at first, e-commerce sellers are now taking advantage of it to market their products. With that in mind, here's a look at some of the new TikTok's new features.

TikTok Product Links

This feature allows the seller to add a product link, which enables the users to click and view the products in the online shop. This way, TikTok sellers get to market their products on this platform without necessarily displaying them.

Short Video Displays

Apart from adding a link to your products, TikTok also allows you to display your products in form of short videos. Here, you can demonstrate the actual working of the product and get people interested in purchasing it.

Livestreamed Shopping

This feature allows brands and influencers to host shopping livestreams, enabling viewers to view products and make in-app purchases in real-time. The TV shopping channel feature is suitable for brands and influencers that command a massive fan following.

TikTok's Competitors

Currently, TikTok is competing with numerous other ecommerce platforms such as Shopify, Wix, Square online, BigCommerce, and Squarespace. Despite their different business models, these platforms target virtually the same audience, meaning the competition in this space is cutthroat.

TikTok Partnership With Shopify

In October 2020, TikTok announced a partnership with Shopify that would allow at least 1 million merchants to market and sell their products through video ads. So far, the TikTok for Business feature enables ecommerce entrepreneurs to create and run campaigns on TikTok and engage their online communities. Beyond advertising their offerings on TikTok, merchants can also sell their offerings on the platform, and therefore, earn money on the platform.

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