The White House is reviewing the national security risks posed by Chinese apps such as TikTok, WeChat, and more, and could take action on them within weeks, said Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday, July 15.
“There are a number of administration officials who are looking at the national security risk as it relates to TikTok, WeChat and other apps that have the potential for national security exposure, specifically as it relates to the gathering of information on American citizens by a foreign adversary,” Meadows told reporters traveling from Atlanta to Washington on Air Force One, according to Reuters. “I don’t think there’s any self-imposed deadline for action, but I think we are looking at weeks, not months.”
The comment comes about a week after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed in an interview that the United States is “looking at” banning Chinese social media apps such as TikTok and urged citizens to uninstall the apps if they don’t want their “private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
In response, TikTok denied the security risks and the allegations that it sends user data to the Chinese government in a statement at the time.
“TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy here in the U.S.,” the spokesperson added. “We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.”
Over the last few weeks, TikTok has struggled to shake off its Chinese roots that have landed it in trouble in a number of countries. The short-form video app, which is owned by a China-based startup called Bytedance, has already been banned in India, its biggest market, over similar national security concerns.
In addition to roping in former Walt Disney executive Kevin Mayer as its CEO, TikTok is now reportedly also considering relocating its headquarters from China to the United States, and is ramping up its team of lobbyists to counter the potential ban in Washington.
Instagram is testing a new format for long-form videos called Features. It allows select creators to upload horizontal videos running up to 90 minutes long. Instagram has already tested the new format with creators in Brazil, and now, it's expanding to tens of thousands of creators across the US.
How will Instagram's new Features format work?
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
I have lost count of how many times I have gone to bed thinking I will finally sleep on time, only to somehow end up scrolling Instagram or X again. A few minutes turn into an hour, then another, and before I notice, it is 2 or 3 a.m. The next morning, I am usually annoyed with myself because I could have just slept and felt considerably better for the day ahead.
It is also a surprisingly hard habit to beat. Knowing you should put the phone down does not always help once it is already in your hand. Brick Night is a new gadget built around that exact problem. Instead of relying on you to remember to turn on an app blocker, it automatically restricts selected apps and websites when your phone enters your chosen sleep space during the hours you set.