TikTok's Launched a More Positive Version of the App in Europe
TikTok's launched an alternativee version of app in Europe which aims to enhance the positive, beneficial aspects of the TikTok experience, while it's also launched new initiative that'll make it easier for businesses to support charity organizations in the app,
First off, TikTok's launching a new 'TikTok Pro' app in Germany, Portugal and Spain, which TikTok says will allow 'people to experience and engage with joyful and entertaining content.'
Which is seemingly different to the main TikTok app because it's focused on positive, educational content.
As per the TikTok Pro description on the German App Store:
'TikTok Pro is a global video community where you can discover the coolest, funniest, and most educational short videos and share special moments with your friends. A useful app with a whole world within itself. TikTok Pro gives you the best video experience with helpful videos, engaging STEM content, and more personal expression.'
So it's a custom, more positivity-focused TikTok experience.
It could be an offering to appeal to regional regulators, by removing all of the more questionable elements.
Also, no e-commerce. TikTok's not looking to sell you stuff in this version of the app.
TikTok Pro will also come with TikTok's new 'Sunshine' program built in, which 'offers a unique way for charities and NGOs to engage with new audiences, and allows the TikTok Pro community to support them.'
As per TikTok:
'Users can accumulate 'virtual Sunshine' by referring others to join and by engaging with content from charities, such as liking or reposting charity videos, following charity-related accounts and performing charity-related searches. People can then use that virtual Sunshine on a charity in the programme, and TikTok will make a donation to that charity.'
So it's like TikTok, but only positive, with charity donation processes built into the app direct. So it's less about getting you to buy stuff, and more about getting you to help others, with the whole principle of the new app being focused on facilitating a more positive impact and experience.
So why does TikTok need another app to do this?
I don't know exactly, but again, it could be an attempt to better align with local market regulators and rules, with TikTok still under scrutiny in many regions.
Indeed, German politicians have repeatedly raised questions about the app, with some suggesting that TikTok should be banned due to the danger it poses to democracy, as 'an instrument" in China and Russia's hybrid warfare.'
The EU Commission has also raised questions about TikTok's influence on younger users in particular, after recent controversy around the rise of the #SkinnyTok hashtag, which encouraged potentially harmful behaviors. EU regulators are also still exploring TikTok's algorithmic approach with respect to the EU Digital Services Act, and it could be that this new TikTok Pro app aligns with broader efforts by TikTok to address related concerns.
The more positive content approach also mirrors how the Chinese local version of TikTok operates, with the Chinese Government overseeing content trends, and ensuring that more beneficial elements are promoted to Chinese youth.
Maybe, then, this is an experiment on that front also, though I don't know that non-Communist countries will be as welcoming of such controls.
(Note: I've asked TikTok for more information on this alternate version of the app, and will update if/when I heard back.)
TikTok says that it's partnering with a number of global and local charities on its Sunshine program, including Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF), WaterAid, Aktion Deutschland Hilft and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). It's also looking to add more charity partners over time.
It seems like an interesting concept, though it'll probably be a hard sell getting people to switch over to an alternate, more sanitized version of the app.
Maybe, eventually, that'll be the only version available to younger users, or TikTok could look to push it in other ways. But it's an interesting development amid ongoing concerns about social media regulation and restriction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump says he will fire lead official on economic data as stocks shudder
US President Donald Trump said he would fire the head of the agency charged with publishing some of America's most closely watched economic data, after a weaker-than-expected jobs report stoked further alarm about his tariff policies. His decision to move forward with plans to sharply raise tariffs on goods from countries around the world had already sent financial markets in the US shuddering. In the US, the three major indexes dropped, with the S&P falling 1.9% by mid-afternoon. That followed earlier sell-offs in Europe and Asia, as investors dumped shares of firms such as South Korean steel manufacturers and German truck-maker Daimler. Trump's plans leave most goods coming into the US facing new taxes of 10% to 50%, depending on their origin, and will lift tariff rates in the US to the highest levels in nearly a century. Trump says the measures will rebalance global trade and boost US manufacturing. But analysts say they will raise prices for businesses and consumers in the US and weigh on the US and global economies, as sales, hiring and investment slow. This week has revived fears about economic damage, as companies update investors on their costs and new data points to slowdown in the US. Employers in the US added just 73,000 jobs in July, according the monthly Labor Department report published on Friday. It also dramatically revised estimates of job growth in May and June, with far fewer gains than previously thought. "The economic data since the Liberation Day announcements did not reflect that sharp deterioration in economic activity, or at least not in obvious ways. This was the week that changed," analysts at Wells Fargo wrote on Friday. The revisions appeared to spur Trump to fire the commissioner of labor statistics, Erika McEntarfer, in a post on social media. "We need accurate Jobs Numbers. I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY," he wrote on social media, referring to the large revisions to the May and June jobs numbers. Trump also lashed out at Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, whom he has angrily criticised in recent months. Shares in the US opened lower in the morning, with losses accelerating over the course of the afternoon. France's CAC 40 closed down 2.9%, while German's DAX fell 2.6%. In the UK, the FTSE fell 0.7%. Earlier the leading index in South Korea fell 3.8%, the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong dropped 1% and Japan's Nikkei fell 0.6%. When Trump first put forward his plans in April, shares in the US tumbled more than 10% in a week, the concerns spreading to the dollar and bond markets. The stock market recovered after he suspended some of the most drastic measures, leaving in place a less punishing, more expected 10% levy. In recent weeks, indexes in the US have been trading around all-time highs. "The reality is Trump got emboldened by the fact that markets came right back," Michael Gayed, portfolio manager for The Free Markets ETF told the BBC's Opening Bell. "Now he's going to try his luck again." The latest measures are less extreme than what Trump first put forward in April, when goods from key players in southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, were facing tariff rates of more than 40% and a tit-for-tat exchange with China drove US tariffs on its exports surge to at least 145%. But the tariffs still make for a radical change for the US, for decades a champion of free trade. The plans include a minimum 10% tax on most goods entering the US, with major trade partners, including the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam face tariffs in the range of 15% to 20%. Goods from China are set to facing new 30% levies, while exports from some other countries, including Switzerland and Laos face even higher duties. The changes, which are set to go into effect on 7 August, will lift the average tariff rate to roughly 18%, up from less than 2.5% as recently as January. Investors had been taking the impact of tariffs in stride, sending shares in the US and elsewhere to new highs in recent weeks. Mr Gayed said markets had become less sensitive to Trump's rapidly changing trade policies, but he saw risks ahead. "The more he just whips around policy, the more the markets will not care, but as the old saying goes, nothing matters 'til it matters and then it's the only thing that matters," he said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
adidas reports 2.2% increase in Q2 2025 net sales
German sportswear giant adidas has reported a net sales increase of 2.2% to €5.95bn ($6.85bn) in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025. It has posted a 12% currency-neutral revenue increase for its namesake brand in the quarter, indicating sustained momentum. The Yeezy inventory sale was completed late in 2024. The revenues, including Yeezy sales from the previous year, showed an 8% increase. adidas' operating profit saw a 58% increase to €546m ($631.1m), with an operating margin increase of 3.2 percentage points to 9.2%. Net income from continuing operations jumped 77% to €375m, resulting in basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of €2.03. The apparel category has seen 17% growth, driven by strong product offerings across sports categories, and footwear revenues rose 9% on a currency-neutral basis. Categories such as running, training, sportswear and performance basketball have been particularly strong. Accessories also saw a 7% increase during the quarter. adidas has also seen strong underlying growth across all markets, with double-digit increases in North America, Greater China, Latin America, emerging markets and Japan/South Korea. The brand's Europe revenue grew 7%. CEO Bjørn Gulden stated: 'We feel the current global growth and the success in markets like Greater China, South Korea or Japan prove that our strategy works and that we are moving in the right direction.' Gross margin improved 0.9 percentage points to 51.7%, primarily due to reduced discounting and lower product and freight costs, partially offset by currency fluctuations and changes in the business mix. In the first half (H1) of 2025, currency-neutral revenues for the Adidas brand were up 14%. The brand saw double-digit growth across all markets and channels. Net income from continuing operations more than doubled to €811m. Footwear revenues increased 16%, and apparel sales grew 12%. The gross margin rose 0.9 percentage points to 51.9% during H1. adidas has confirmed its full-year outlook despite external volatility and macroeconomic risks. The company expects currency-neutral sales to increase at a high-single-digit rate in 2025 and projects its operating profit to reach between €1.7bn and €1.8bn. Gulden added: 'The year has started great for us and normally we would now be very bullish in our outlook for the full year. We feel the volatility and uncertainty in the world does not make this prudent. We still do not know what the final tariffs in the US will be. 'We have already had a negative impact in the double-digit euro millions in Q2 and the latest indications of tariffs will directly increase the cost of our products for the US with up to €200m during the rest of the year. We do also not know what the indirect impact on consumer demand will be should all these tariffs cause major inflation.' "adidas reports 2.2% increase in Q2 2025 net sales" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Bodegas are the new ‘It' restaurants as dining out costs spiral: ‘It's not just mozzarella sticks anymore'
NYC's corner markets are cornering the market — on haute cuisine. As the cost of dining out in the Big Apple spirals higher, eating well without breaking the bank could be as simple as visiting your nearest bodega. The city's humble bazaars are increasingly perceived as epicurean pioneers — with gourmands and social media influencers clamoring for a bite. The craze comes as the price of eating out in the five boroughs has been said to soar by nearly 30%, according to a 2024 City Comptroller's Office report — with even a sad Midtown desk lunch of salad or fast food often costing a minimum of $15 nowadays. 16 A worker prepares a shrimp and octopus cocktail at La Esquina Del Camarón Mexicano, a Mexican seafood depot at the back of an Indian bodega in Jackson Heights, Queens. Tamara Beckwith/ By contrast, determined diners willing to look past the toilet paper rolls and bricks of Cafe Bustelo can fill their belly at a wave of unlikely grocery gastro-hubs for a fraction of the price — without degrading their palate. 'I go to my bodega every day, and the halal food is better than the food truck next door and cheaper — and they can do it all,' Karissa Dumbacher, an NYC foodfluencer with over 5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, told The Post. 'I mean, it's not just mozzarella sticks anymore.' Here's the dish on six tasty, cutting-edge supping spots. Java, no jive 16 IndoJava Chef Anastasia Dewi Tjahjadi and owner Elvi Goliat display a bowl of lontong mie. Tamara Beckwith/ There's no menu at IndoJava, a bite-sized bodega in Elmhurst, Queens — but behind the selection of sambals and other Indonesian staples, intrepid diners will find one of the toughest tables in town. Javanese chef Anastasia Dewi Tjahjadi, one of two haute-hash slingers (Thursdays, a chef from Jakarta takes over the stove), recently served just one dish: lontong mie ($15), a fragrant specialty from her hometown of Surabaya. The piquant combo of noodles, bean curd, bean cake wedges, compressed rice cakes, garlic crackers, prawns and clam skewers packed a punch — in a brawny broth infused with pungent shrimp paste and served with weapons-grade chili peppers. 16 Diners can eat at a squat yellow table at the back of the bodega. Tamara Beckwith/ And don't bother asking the chef to turn the heat down. 'I don't want the people to come here and be, like, 'Oh, I'm sorry, I don't like spicy' — because my food … is spicy,' the griddle gourmet proudly told The Post. 'I can't make it not spicy.' Opened back in 2008, IndoJava has become a bona fide sensation. In a viral video, influencer Dumbacher labeled the offerings the closest thing to 'actual authentic Indonesian food in New York City.' IndoJava's food pop-ups are available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. while supplies last; daily specials are announced on Instagram. 'We do very traditional, very authentic,' owner Elvi Goliat told The Post. 'We need to make something interesting so they will come every week.' IndoJava, 8512 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst Mart of the deal 16 A variety of Guatemalan specialties are displayed at the Karen Deli. Stefano Giovannini for In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the tiny Karen Deli has an ace up its sleeve — a speakeasy-like Guatemalan canteen located incongruously at the back, near a Central American mural. The crown jewel drawing in-the-know types is the Pepian De Pollo ($13), a rich, spice-inflected stew studded with pumpkin seeds, best paired with a chuchito ($3), a miniature Guatemalan tamale, and washed down with a regional soda from the cooler. This hearty combo costs a fraction of what you'd pay for one entrée at a sit-down spot in nearby trendy neighborhoods. 16 It is one of many bodegas serving unique dishes. Stefano Giovannini for According to legendary NYC restaurant critic Robert Sietsema, unexpected finds like these show how bodegas are evolving. 'For decades, [the bodega] was a province of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans and African-Americans, hence the term bodega, which is just Spanish for store,' the Village Voice alum told The Post. 'This is indicative of other groups taking over the bodegas, having a much broader selection,' he said. Karen Deli, 6116 5th Ave., Brooklyn Prawn stars 16 A cocktail of shrimp and octopus at La Esquina Del Camaron. Tamara Beckwith/ Jackson Heights, Queens, has always been the Big Apple's multicultural bouillabaisse. Head to Roosevelt Avenue — where diners will find an Indian mini mart in the front and a Mexican seafood restaurant in the back. Dubbed La Esquina Del Camaron Mexicano, the tiny, cash-only sit-down serves shrimp and octopus cocktails with cilantro, avocado and a 'secret' cocktail sauce ($15 for a small portion). 16 Indian bodega La Esquina Del Camaron features a bustling Mexican seafood restaurant. Tamara Beckwith/ 16 Diners can check out a mini mart in the front — and the seafood paradise in the back Tamara Beckwith 16 The Jackson Heights go-to also offers Coctel de Camarones y Pulpo, and fish and tacos. Tamara Beckwith/ It's perhaps one of the few places in town you'd want to tuck into a plate of shellfish while pondering a wall of e-cigarettes and playing your scratch-off tickets. La Esquina Del Camaron Mexicano, 8002 Roosevelt Ave. The hero we deserve 16 The hand-scrawled hero menu frames a kitchen worker at Sunny & Annie's Deli. Tamara Beckwith/ Sunny & Annie's Deli in Manhattan's East Village is much more than a bacon-egg-and-cheese broker, offering a 24-hour smorgasbord of inventive, submarine-sized, Asian-inflected heroes, which the Korean owners list on handscrawled notecards. Wacky fare includes the Obama (grilled chicken and eggplant), the Bernie Sanders (teriyaki chicken and shiitake mushrooms), and other sandwiches whose ingredients appear to be charmingly unrelated to their celeb namesake. Check out the Pho #1 ($10.99 cash, $11.97 using a card), which, like its eponymous soup, features beef, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, sriracha and a slathering of hoisin. The dining depot is a standby for food critic Sietsema, who described the noshes as 'just plain weird in a good sort of way.' 16 A pho-inspired sandwich from Sunny & Annie's Deli. Tamara Beckwith/ 'There's no place that makes sandwiches that uses the odd combination of semi-healthy ingredients with good bread,' the pro told The Post. 'And people that go in there for the first time, they're dumbstruck by the menu.' Sunny & Annie's Deli, 94 Avenue B Way to plant 16 The Clinton Fruit Market on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan is one of 50 bodegas where customers can find Plantega. Tamara Beckwith/ Bodegas haven't historically been bastions of vegetarian-friendly fare, Plantega is changing that — offering a '100% plant-based menu' that 'reimagines New York's iconic deli sandwiches,' ranging from the steak, egg and cheese burrito to the chopped cheese (both $12). 'In a way, bodegas are the city's original test kitchens,' Plantega Founder and CEO Nil Zacharias told The Post. The concept, launched in 2022, is available at 50 bodegas. It reflects the corner store's legacy for innovation, where a 'Dominican-owned grill meets halal ingredients, or a classic bacon, egg, and cheese gets a twist that reflects the neighborhood,' he said. 'Too often, 'better food' is framed as something exclusive,' he told The Post of grub which is often 'packaged for a certain demographic.' 16 A vegan chopped cheese, courtesy of Plantega. Tamara Beckwith/ 'Instead of asking people to change their habits, we chose to meet them where they already eat,' he added. 'That meant starting with the bodega, one of the most trusted, culturally rooted spaces in New York City.' Plantega features a Chopped Cheese with Beyond Meat, Stockheld cultured cheddar and Fabalish vegan mayo — a combo that's tasty and healthier than oft-dubious deli protein. 'The food is hot, satisfying and made to order, just without the meat sweats or the 3 p.m. crash that makes you question your life choices,' Zacharias quipped. Plantega, various locations Ock-ed and loaded 16 'For years, I [saw] people get the same sandwiches and order all of these things on the side,' said Rahim Mohamed, owner of Red Hook Food Corp. Stephen Yang Probably the only bodega in remote Red Hook, Brooklyn, to have lured celebs like Ed Sheeran and Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Rahim Mohamed's Red Hook Food Corp has become a viral sensation. Better known online as General Ock — derived from Americanized Arabic slang for 'akhi,' meaning 'brother' — the savvy seller has created a cutting-edge meal mecca, amassing over 5.5 million TikTok followers by sharing videos of him whipping up some of NYC's wildest vittles. 16 A sandwich hits the griddle before heading to a hungry customer. Stephen Yang 16 A stuffed sandwich at Red Hook Food Corp. Stephen Yang And no ingredient is too outlandish. Here, chopped cheese sandwiches are piled high with Pop-Tarts, mozzarella sticks, cotton candy, Rice Krispies Treats and more — in a method dubbed the Ocky Way. 'For years, I [saw] people get the same sandwiches and order all of these things on the side. I thought, 'Why can't I mix it all together?'' he told The Post in 2021. Red Hook Food Corp, 603 Clinton St., Brooklyn
