A mother has revealed her "shock" after witnessing the "quick effect" TikTok had on her 10-year-old daughter after just seven days.

Speaking to news.com.au, a mom by the name of Annika revealed how her daughter had begged her to download TikTok so she could watch "baking videos".

The Melbourne said that she was hesitant at first, but after realizing many of her daughter's friends were on the social media platform, she believed watching a few videos wouldn't cause any harm.

However, the mom later told the publication: "I was shocked that it had such a quick effect on her.

"Within a week she had burst into tears at the dinner table for not being pretty enough — like the girls on TikTok."

Annika reveals that after her daughter's emotional outburst, she refused to let her daughter back on the social media app.

She explained: "It made me realize how sensitive she was and how sensitive she would be in the future for online stuff."

Despite admitting that she didn't know much about TikTok before, Annika said that the ongoing pandemic has made many parents "weaker".

"[Parents] are more likely to agree to that extra hour of screentime and more likely to make concessions," she said.

The mom added: "For years we’ve been trying to keep them away from screens but now they are on there six hours a day for school, then want to go back for gaming and other things. It’s a battle."

After witnessing her own daughter's experiences on the app, the 44-year-old mom watched the new Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma - which she admits has caused her to remove some of her own social media apps from her phone.

Speaking to news.com.au, clinical psychologist Dr Andrew Fuller said that social media can affect some children negatively because they absorb the comments other people make about them.

Dr Fuller explained: "They’re trusting and that’s a risk because if they believe everything everyone says about them, they can end up with a very negative view of themselves.

"Before they are 13 (years old) you’ve got to be pretty careful because kids might not evaluate things in a logical way that an adult might."

Despite social media helping so many of us to stay connected with friends and loved ones - especially over the last year - Dr Fuller says that parents have to make a judgment about their own child's maturity when it comes to letting them access social media.

"When you’re a young teenager, you imagine the world is always looking at you, how pretty you are, how you talk, how skinny you are. Social media amplifies that," he said.

Social media can truly be a wonderful thing, and something we've all seen the benefits of. But when is the right age to let our children start setting up their own accounts?

A teenager has divided social media users this week after a video emerged of her struggling to work a tape cassette.

The footage in question was first shared on TikTok by New Jersey native Lynda Machado, who took to the platform to post a video of her 14-year-old daughter attempting to use a retro-style Walkman which she'd just bought from Urban Outfitters.

However, the Gen Z girl, who has grown up in a world where digital music has been around for most of her life, can clearly be seen struggling to operate the gadget.

The teen can initially be seen trying to put the tape inside the player while still in its plastic case, prompting a snort of laughter from her mom.

She then struggles to open the lid, and also seems to have trouble placing the tape in the correct position in the deck, prompting more laughter from her mom in the background.

Suffice it to say that the clip picked up a lot of attention on TikTok, and currently boasts over 3.8 million views and 532,000 likes at the time of writing.

A number of users seemed to take issue with the girl's inability to handle the gadget. One person wrote: "It's the lack of problem solving skills for me."

Another then wrote: "Wait till she finds out there's no track skip."

While a third added: "Back in the day we just instinctively knew how to operate cassette tapes."

A fourth added: "I see a lack of observation and practical logic here or maybe it's just laziness."

However, other TikTok users were more supportive and compared her plight in the video to older people finding new tech difficult to operate.

One person wrote: "This has the same energy as watching an older adult try to maneuver computer settings."

Another person agreed, writing: "Weird how people assume that because THEY know something, that EVERYONE should know it... let's try getting over ourselves. [sic]"

Meanwhile, another person wrote: "To be fair if I had my mom try to use Spotify or Apple Music she'd have no clue how to use it."

Other commenters were just happy to appreciate the video for its humor. For instance, one social media commented: "I'm just shocked they're bringing them back [...] this was fun to see. Thanks for sharing."

Another was simply shocked that a teen had even bothered to purchase such dated equipment at such a high price, writing: "You know it was [probably] like $60 too but you could get them for $3 from a thrift store."

While another added: "Welp... I already knew I was old, but dang... this one hurt."

Machado later stated in a follow-up post that her daughter had given up on the analog music player, after accidentally tuning it to FM radio, struggling to find the volume control, and realizing that she couldn't use her AirPods as headphones.

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

TikTok has been shut down in the US hours before it was meant to be, but Donald Trump could come to its rescue.

TikTok users across the United States were left in the dark as the popular video-sharing app went offline at 11:00PM on Saturday, per BBC News.

A message displayed to US users read: "A law banning TikTok has been enacted, meaning you can't use TikTok for now."

The ban stems from concerns over the app's ties to the Chinese government.

Lawmakers had set a deadline of January 19 for TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an approved US buyer. ByteDance has yet to comply with the requirement.

President Joe Biden, who previously indicated he would defer the matter to his successor, Donald Trump, has handed over the reins of the controversy.

Trump, in response, has suggested that TikTok may receive a 90-day reprieve from the ban.

"The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate," Trump told NBC News on Saturday. "If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."

Users noticed that the app had also been removed from Apple and Google’s US app stores. Additionally, TikTok’s website was no longer showing videos.

A message displayed after the ban was implemented expressed hope for resolution, stating: "We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office."

The Supreme Court upheld the law, which was initially passed in April 2024, mandating TikTok’s sale or withdrawal from the US market.

The ruling came despite TikTok's arguments that the law infringes on free speech rights for its 170 million American users.

TikTok’s chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, responded to the ruling by appealing directly to Trump.

"We are thankful for his commitment to work with us to find a solution," Chew said. Chew is also expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

The ban also extends to ByteDance's sister app Lemon8 and RedNote, a Chinese social media platform that gained traction as a TikTok alternative. Both apps are subject to the law prohibiting foreign adversary-developed platforms from U.S. app stores.

Several entities have expressed interest in purchasing TikTok. Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced in March 2024 his intention to "put together a group" to acquire the platform, reaching out to "a lot of tech companies".

Video-sharing platform Rumble also entered the fray, stating its readiness to form a consortium for the purchase, per Forbes.

Meanwhile, Project Liberty, a nonprofit internet advocacy group led by billionaire Frank McCourt, proposed acquiring TikTok's U.S. operations with backing from investors such as Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary and Guggenheim Securities.

O’Leary claimed he offered $20 billion for the app.

Speculation has also swirled around Elon Musk, with reports suggesting Chinese officials are open to selling TikTok to the Tesla CEO due to his close ties with Trump.

Featured image credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty

The drama surrounding TikTok reached new heights as the wildly popular video-sharing app went dark over the weekend, leaving its 170 million US users reeling.

The blackout followed a controversial law passed by Congress last year, which led to TikTok voluntarily halting its services ahead of an official ban set to go into effect.

When US-based users tried to access the app, they were met with a somber message: "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now.

"We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!"

The app was also removed from Apple and Google Play stores, sparking confusion and frustration among its millions of users.

However, the shutdown was short-lived. TikTok quickly announced plans to restore service after incoming President Donald Trump pledged to delay the ban and seek a long-term solution to keep the app operational in the United States.

Trump to the Rescue

Just 14 hours later, TikTok was back online for US users.

In a tweet, TikTok officials thanked Trump - who will be inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on Monday (Jan 20) - stating: "In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.

"We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over seven million small businesses to thrive."

The statement also praised Trump for taking a stand against censorship, adding: "It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States."

Security Concerns

The app has long been a target of national security concerns, with US officials citing fears that the Chinese government could exploit TikTok to spy on Americans or influence public opinion by manipulating content.

FBI Director Christopher Wray previously told Congress that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, could be compelled under Chinese law to cooperate with government intelligence efforts, per CBS News.

Last year, lawmakers passed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok or face a ban. The deadline for compliance was set for January 19 — just one day before Trump’s inauguration.

A Pop-Up Welcome Back

As TikTok restored services, a cheerful message greeted returning users: "Welcome back! Thank you for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the US! You can continue to create, share and discover all the things you love on TikTok."

However, not everyone welcomed TikTok’s statements. Critics, including White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, dismissed the app’s messaging as a publicity ploy.

"We have seen the most recent statement from TikTok," Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "It is a stunt, and we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday.

"We have laid out our position clearly and straightforwardly: actions to implement this law will fall to the next administration. So TikTok and other companies should take up any concerns with them."

Mixed Reactions Online

Social media erupted with debate, with some praising Trump’s intervention and others accusing TikTok of orchestrating a “PR stunt.”

"This was all a stunt to make Trump look good," one X user wrote, with another adding: "This appears to be a publicity move."

A third tweeted: "This was such an obvious PR stunt to try to garner favor with Trump. They never had to take TikTok offline, and if they were legally required to, then nothing Trump said to them could have allowed them to restore service."

"This whole TikTok thing was a PR Stunt from Donald Trump and so many people believed it," a fourth wrote. "App banned for like two seconds. Trump literally mentioned in the message. CEO attending his inauguration. Ban magically lifted. Like y’all really didn’t see through this?"

A post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, further fueled speculation. Trump stated he would sign an executive order extending the ban deadline, giving TikTok and potential non-Chinese buyers more time to negotiate a deal.

“Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Trump said.

He also told NBC News on Saturday: "The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate. If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."

With TikTok back online and the political firestorm still raging, the future of the app — and its role in US-China relations — remains uncertain. For now, American users can continue scrolling, but the controversy is far from over.

Featured image credit: Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

It goes without saying that raising children is no easy feat. Particularly when there are 11 of them!

But one TikTok user, who happens to be a parent of 11 kids aged between 1 and 21, has shared a hack with other moms and dads of large families - and she swears by the parenting technique.

In a video posted to the app, Veronica told her followers that she has assigned each of her children a specific color so that everyone knows which things belong to which member of the family.

The video was a response to a follower who wrote in a comment on a previous video: "What [are] the kids' colors? They are color-coded?"

Veronica told the commenter: "Yeah, so I color code my 11 kids. It just makes things easier for me. So most of their belongings - shoes, toys, clothes, blankets, and everything are in their special colors.

"I actually started the color-coding back when I only had one kid. It wasn't intentional at first, but it sort of just continued and I don't know, I really enjoy doing it. It doesn't necessarily mean it's their favorite color but it usually is."

The video has since received more than 1,300 likes and has been viewed over 40,000 times at the time of writing.

And a number of people have taken to the comments to praise the mom's technique, with many sharing that they too, use the color-coding method on their own children.

One TikTok user wrote: "Omg yes I did this for my 6 kids, it's amazing so helpful! Even dishes too, [you have] a beautiful family."

Another chimed in, sharing: "I do that too! Even though I have 3 kids lol my son of course is blue. Then my daughter is pink and I just had another girl and hers is purple."

A different social media user acknowledged how stressful it must be raising so many kids at one time. They wrote: "I can't imagine how hectic your life is. I only have 1 sibling and he has only 3 kids and his life can get kinda hectic so your life must be way worse."

While another TikTok commenter shared these lovely words with the doting mom: "I don't know you, but I'm proud of you and it's awesome that you were able to buy a house for you and your family. Take care."

What do you think of the color-coding technique? Have you used it on your own kids? Let us know in the comments!

Featured image credit: RTimages / Alamy