TikTok
ByteDance and the Motion Picture Association announced a global agreement aimed at adding intellectual property protection for AI models such as Seedance and Seedream, responding to previous controversies over AI-generated actor likenesses.
TikTok confirmed the 2026 edition of its Music on Stage creator competition, modeled loosely on Eurovision. Auditions begin 15 August with a three-day global relay concert. Winners gain professional development via SoundOn, recording support, and slots at major festivals including Breakaway Carolina and All Things Go NYC.
TikTok's U.S. operating entity TikTok USDS JV announced the closure of its Nashville office, laying off 250 people, as the office had handled part of the content moderation work. The company said the move aims to optimize operations but did not respond to the gap in moderation capacity.
TikTok and Disney announced a first-of-its-kind global content sharing agreement, allowing users to create short videos using Disney licensed assets, while Disney can bring selected creator content to the Verts section of Disney+. The partnership also includes a Disney Creator Ambassador program aimed at nurturing emerging creative talent. This move is seen as Disney's strategic shift toward embracing the short-video ecosystem after ending its collaboration with OpenAI's Sora.
TikTok announced the integration of Dreamina Seedance 2.5 into its Symphony ad creation suite, allowing advertisers to generate up to 30-second video clips with up to 50 multi-modal references. The update promises sharper imagery and better storytelling, though it comes amid user backlash against AI-generated content across platforms.
American Eagle kicked off its back-to-school marketing campaign on Wednesday, focusing on malls, campus life, and sports culture. The brand's five-year global endorsement partnership with Spanish star Lamine Yamal has gained momentum following his World Cup win, while also launching content series such as "Mall Diaries" and tapping into the #RushTok trend on college campuses.
As the second half of 2026 approaches, marketers need to reassess their social media strategies. Based on the Social Media Today series of guides, this article focuses on the TikTok platform and proposes five suggestions: leveraging TikTok trend tools, building a database of themes and formats, researching creators, formulating strategies, and analyzing data, to help brands establish an effective presence on TikTok and enhance holiday promotional effectiveness.
TikTok Shop is becoming a new growth channel for food and beverage brands, with its food category sales more than doubling year-over-year. The platform not only drives sales but also accelerates innovation cycles through 'discovery commerce,' from Dubai chocolate to freeze-dried candy, quickly turning trends into products. This article, based on an interview with Amanda Parker, head of TikTok Shop's food business, analyzes how brands can leverage the platform for rapid experimentation, direct consumer reach, and reshaping innovation strategies.
Marketing strategy group Warc, in collaboration with TikTok, has released a new report studying the impact of AI tools on marketing workflows and how marketers integrate insights to optimize AI output and enhance overall campaign performance. Based on feedback from 400 marketers in the UK, US, Australia, and Brazil, the report finds that the key to current content trends is "relevance" rather than "volume," a dimension that cannot be fully replicated by AI tools. Andy Yang, TikTok's Global Head of Creative and Brand Advertising, stated that today's winning brands are not those producing the most content, but those learning fastest from the people they serve. The report also notes that AI has lower value in copywriting and scriptwriting, with a clear shortfall in creative originality, and that more cultural insights can help improve the relevance of AI output.
TikTok announced a new global partnership with the NBA and WNBA on Thursday to offer exclusive content within the app. Data shows that since early 2026, global interest in NBA and WNBA-related content has grown by nearly 30% and 15%, respectively, and 64% of women's basketball fans consider TikTok their preferred platform. The partnership will cover exclusive content from major events such as the All-Star Game and the In-Season Tournament, and leverage TikTok's GamePlan tool to enhance fan engagement.