Brussels, My Love?

Brussels, my love? Do TikTok algorithms sway elections?

In this edition, we look at whether TikTok's algorithms could have swayed the Romanian presidential elections, and ask if Europe should ban under-16s from social media.

7 December 2024

Europe News

EU demands 'urgent' answers from TikTok about Romanian election

A series of declassified documents suggest TikTok was exploited by a "state actor" to influence the outcome of Romania's presidential election.

6 December 2024

Europe News

Declassified reports hint at 'state actor' behind Georgescu's campaign

Five secret reports from different Romanian institutions and agencies have been made public by the country's president upon their request.

4 December 2024

Culture news

Who won the first UK & Ireland TikTok Awards?

Educators, popstars, and a terminally ill cancer patient were among the winners of the inaugural TikTok Awards UK & Ireland 2024

4 December 2024

Europe News

Lawmakers keep TikTok on watch after clashes over Romanian election

TikTok says it engaged with Romanian authorities ahead of the election, and follows the EU's online platform rules.

3 December 2024

Europe

Is Romania a wake-up call for social media regulation in Brussels?

Last week, Romania's National Audiovisual Council asked the European Commission to investigate the role of Tik Tok in the Romanian presidential elections.

3 December 2024

Culture news

‘Brain rot’ is Oxford’s Word of the Year for 2024

‘Brain rot’ refers to the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”

2 December 2024

EuroVerify

TikTok accused of failing to tackle election disinformation in Ireland

The Chinese-owned platform is under increasing scrutiny in Europe for its influence over electoral processes.

29 November 2024

Europe News

Romania's top court asks for presidential election first round recount

Far-right, Moscow-friendly candidate Călin Georgescu dramatically won in the election's first round — shocking the country's political establishment.

28 November 2024

Tech News

Romanian authorities ask EU to investigate TikTok role in election

TikTok was widely used by the frontrunner in the Romanian presidential election last week.

27 November 2024

Tech News

Australian social media ban for under 16s moves closer to becoming law

Australia's social media ban for children under 16 has come a step closer to becoming law as it passes the House of Representatives.

27 November 2024

Europe News

Romanian 'TikTok Messiah' embodies hybrid war with West

Romanian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has millions of likes on TikTok and hundreds of thousands of followers. He ran a successful social media campaign to emerge victorious in the first round of the country's presidential elections.

27 November 2024

Culture news

'Demure' named 2024 Word of the Year by Dictionary.com

Its exact meaning is hard to pinpoint, as a word once associated with shyness and modesty has taken on a whole new life through internet fame this year. Another case of TikTok recontextualizing language - which can be both fascinating and confusing.

26 November 2024

Tech News

Social media sites call for delay to Australia's social media ban

Social media sites are lobbying the Australian government to delay its proposed age limits for children younger than 16.

25 November 2024

Tech News

Dutch ministry to check best practices for online content moderation

The investigation comes after video sharing application TikTok said it will close its Amsterdam office.

20 November 2024

Lifestyle

Backlash against women shaving their heads to protest Donald Trump

Women are shaving their heads on TikTok to protest Donald Trump's reelection, as part of the 4B movement. In reaction, cancer survivors and alopecia victims have been condemning this trend, while Trump supporters have been mocking it.

18 November 2024

Tech News

TikTok, X, Meta exposed to terrorist content: Irish regulator

The online platforms now have three months to report back about the measures they took to take down illegal content.

14 November 2024

Culture news

TikTok announce first UK and Ireland awards

Some of the biggest UK and Irish TikTokers have been shortlisted for the first awards dedicated to the platform.

13 November 2024

Tech News

Could Donald Trump 'save TikTok' from a potential ban in the US?

Donald Trump previously promised to save TikTok from a potential ban from the US next year.

13 November 2024

Tech News

Seven French families sue TikTok over harmful content

The lawyer representing the plaintiffs told Euronews that TikTok’s “addictive” design and limited content moderation is harmful to young people.

7 November 2024