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ByteDance



ByteDance Ltd. is a prominent Chinese internet technology company, headquartered in Haidian, Beijing, and incorporated in the Cayman Islands. The company was founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming, Liang Rubo, and a team of collaborators.

ByteDance Ltd.
बाइटडांस् लिमिटेड्
Native name
字节跳动有限公司
Formerly
Beijing ByteDance Technology Co., Ltd. (2012-2018)
Douyin Group (HK) Ltd. (2018–2022)
IndustryInternet
Founded13 March 2012; 13 years ago (2012-03-13)
Founder(s)s
Headquarters
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Zhang Yiming (founder & chairman)
  • Liang Rubo (founder & CEO)
  • Erich Andersen (global GC)[2]
  • Kelly Zhang (CEO of ByteDance China)[3]
  • Lidong Zhang (chairman of ByteDance China)[3]
  • Shou Zi Chew (CEO of TikTok)
Products
RevenueIncrease US$120 billion (2023)[4]
Increase US$2 billion (2022)[5]
OwnerZhang Yiming
Sequoia Capital
SoftBank Group
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
Number of employees
c. 150,000 (2023)[6]
Subsidiaries
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Website{{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
Zijie Tiaodong
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ByteDance is best known for developing the video-sharing applications TikTok and its Chinese counterpart Douyin. Additionally, the company has created the news aggregation platform Toutiao and the video-editing application CapCut, which have gained significant popularity.

However, ByteDance has faced considerable regulatory scrutiny and media attention across various countries due to concerns related to security, surveillance, and censorship. These issues have sparked debates over data privacy, content moderation, and the implications of foreign technology companies operating in different jurisdictions.

ProductsEdit

CapCutEdit

Main article: CapCut

CapCut, a user-friendly video editing software, was first launched to the public in April 2020. By March 2023, the application had garnered over 20 crore active users each month. Notably, reports from The Wall Street Journal indicated that CapCut experienced more downloads than TikTok in the same month. During March 2023, it ranked as the second-most downloaded app in the United States, trailing only behind the app for Temu, a Chinese discount retailer.

DouyinEdit

Douyin (Chinese: 抖音; pinyin: Dǒuyīn), initially launched to the public in September 2016 under the name A.me, is the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. This application serves as a short-form video social media platform and distinguishes itself from its international counterpart by offering a range of advanced features. While TikTok and Douyin share a similar user interface, they do not allow access to each other's content. Furthermore, their servers are localised, operating within the markets where each app is available.

LarkEdit

Main article: Lark (software)

Lark, ByteDance's enterprise collaboration platform, was initially launched to the public in 2019. Originally designed as an internal tool, Lark served as ByteDance's main platform for internal communication and collaboration before being made accessible to external users in select markets.

TikTokEdit

TikTok, a video-sharing [[ Social networking service] | social networking service]] designed for creating short-form videos spanning genres such as dance, comedy, and education, was first made available to the public in September 2017. On 09 November 2017, ByteDance acquired the Shanghai-based social media start-up Musical.ly for a sum of up to 1 arab US$ (1 billion US$). Subsequently, on 02 August 2018, TikTok was formed by merging Musical.ly with Flipagram, a previous acquisition, while retaining the TikTok name.

TikTok MusicEdit

Launched in July 2023 in Indonesia and Brazil, TikTok Music was previously known as Resso. On October 19, 2023, the platform expanded its availability to Mexico, Singapore, and Australia. TikTok Music enables users to highlight and share lyrics, comments, and other user-generated content while streaming full-length tracks. ByteDance has established licensing agreements with major music entities, including Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Merlin Network, and Beggars Group, among others. Resso was discontinued in India in January 2024 due to "local market conditions". On 24 September 2024, ByteDance announced that TikTok Music would be shut down on 28 November 2024.

ToutiaoEdit

First rolled out in August 2012 as Chinese: 今日头条; pinyin: Jīnrì Tóutiáo, this platform initially focused on AI-driven news curation. It later broadened its offerings to include diverse content types like written articles, visual media, Q&A forums, microblogging, and video streaming.

Growth TimelineEdit

  • 2014: Creator Ecosystem Boost: Introduced the "Toutiaohao" (头条号) initiative to onboard bloggers, journalists, and influencers. Enhanced features with video upload options by year-end. Leveraged user-interest algorithms and distributed content networks to amplify reach for specialised creators.
  • 2017: Global Partnerships & Innovation: Parent firm ByteDance acquired America’s Flipagram, signalling cross-border expansion. Subsequent upgrades included:
  1. Missing Persons Initiative: Geolocation-driven emergency alerts aiding 13,116 family reunions till June 2020.
  2. Watermelon Video: Renamed from Toutiao Video, this segment specialised in snackable clips (2–5 minutes).
  3. In-App Search Tool: Integrated discovery feature for streamlined content access.

Xigua VideoEdit

Xigua Video (西瓜视频, Xīguā shìpín), originally launched in 2016 as Toutiao Video, has transformed into a versatile digital hub catering to both creators and viewers. Starting as a platform for user-generated short and medium-length clips, it later expanded into producing original films and TV shows, blending grassroots creativity with professional entertainment.

The rebranded platform combines its roots in casual, bite-sized content with curated high-quality programming, positioning itself as a dual-force player in China’s digital content landscape. Key to its evolution is its focus on diverse formats—from quick viral videos to polished episodic productions—making it a one-stop destination for varied viewer preferences

NuverseEdit

Nuverse, established in 2019 as ByteDance’s gaming arm, expanded globally with Warhammer 40,000: Lost Crusade (2021) and acquired Moonton the same year after outbidding Tencent. Its breakout title Marvel Snap (2022) launched after testing in the Philippines and New Zealand.

By November 2023, ByteDance began restructuring Nuverse to exit gaming. In January 2025, Marvel Snap faced a 3-day US ban before restoration under revised policies, returning to the App Store by January 27.

  • 2021: Moonton acquisition, first global game release
  • 2022: Marvel Snap worldwide launch
  • 2023: Strategic gaming exit initiated
  • 2025: US ban reversal and service resumption

Volcano EngineEdit

In the year 2021, ByteDance established Volcano Engine as its division for cloud-based services. By September 2024, this entity had unveiled its innovative creation: an AI-driven tool specifically engineered for video generation.

WheeEdit

In June 2024, the messaging and image-sharing platform Whee debuted globally for users, though its services were excluded from the US market during this initial rollout phase.

Other products and acquisitionsEdit

Censorship, surveillance, and data privacy concernsEdit

ByteDance has faced scrutiny regarding surveillance,[7][8] data privacy,[9] and censorship issues,[10][11] particularly concerning human rights violations in Tibet and the persecution of Uyghurs in China.[note 1] There are ongoing concerns about the implications of China's National Intelligence Law and Cybersecurity Law, which could affect ByteDance and its employees, especially regarding extraterritorial jurisdiction.[17][18](pp42–43)

In September 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published a report that summarised responses from nine companies, including ByteDance, to inquiries made under Section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914. The report investigated user and non-user data collection practices, particularly focusing on data related to children and teenagers. It concluded that the data practices of these companies rendered individuals susceptible to risks such as identity theft, stalking, unlawful discrimination, emotional distress, mental health issues, social stigma, and reputational harm.

Government regulationEdit

IndiaEdit

On 29 June 2020, the government of India imposed a ban on CapCut, TikTok, and 58 other Chinese apps, citing national security concerns. This ban was made permanent in January 2021. Additionally, in March 2021, the government of India took further action by freezing ByteDance's bank accounts in the country, alleging tax evasion.

ReferencesEdit

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 McDonald, Joe; Soo, Zen (24 March 2023). "Why does US see Chinese-owned TikTok as a security threat?". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Clark, Dan (24 January 2020). "Microsoft In-House Attorney to Serve as TikTok's First Global General Counsel". Corporate Counsel. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jimenez, Miriam (3 December 2020). "ByteDance names China CEO, chairman; launches music app in Indonesia". S&P Global. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Scheer, Olga; Natzel, Leonie Tabea (24 April 2024). "Tiktok wendet EU-Strafe vorerst ab – USA setzen Ultimatum". Handelsblatt. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Rodriguez, Salvador; Wells, Georgia (2 October 2023). "TikTok Parent ByteDance Turns Operating Profit, Sees Revenue Slow". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Revenue at TikTok Owner ByteDance Rose More Than 30% in 2022, Topped $80 Billion". The Information. 1 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Baker-White, Emily (20 October 2022). "TikTok Parent ByteDance Planned To Use TikTok To Monitor The Physical Location Of Specific American Citizens". Forbes. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Kang, Cecilia (22 December 2022). "ByteDance Inquiry Finds Employees Obtained User Data of 2 Journalists". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Baker-White, Emily (17 June 2022). "Leaked Audio From 80 Internal TikTok Meetings Shows That US User Data Has Been Repeatedly Accessed From China". Buzzfeed News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Potkin, Fanny (13 August 2020). "Exclusive: ByteDance censored anti-China content in Indonesia until mid-2020 – sources". Reuters. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  11. ↑ Hern, Alex (25 September 2019). "Revealed: how TikTok censors videos that do not please Beijing". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  12. ↑ Cellan-Jones, Rory (29 November 2019). "Tech Tent: Tik Tok and the Uighur Muslims". BBC News. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  13. ↑ Cockerell, Isobel (25 September 2023). "How TikTok opened a window into China's police state". Coda Media. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Fifield, Anna (28 November 2019). "TikTok's owner is helping China's campaign of repression in Xinjiang, report finds". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  15. ↑ Cockerell, Isobel (24 January 2020). "Xinjiang's TikTok wipes away evidence of Uyghur persecution". Coda Media. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  16. ↑ Levine, Alexandra (1 May 2023). "TikTok Parent ByteDance's 'Sensitive Words' Tool Monitors Discussion Of China, Trump, Uyghurs". Forbes. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Palmer, Alex W. (20 December 2022). "How TikTok Became a Diplomatic Crisis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :11


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