Understanding the TikTok Ban: From Data Risks to Digital Disconnect
TikTok’s future in the United States hangs in the balance as legal battles, political pressures, and security concerns collide.
April 4, 2025
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TikTok’s increasing influence — now a key player in the U.S.-China tariff wars — continues to impact kids, with viral trends putting them at risk, including one involving sensory toys that cause chemical burns. Meanwhile, Netflix’s Adolescence series paints a stark picture of teen life and its emotional challenges. Plus, the rise of character-based AI chatbots has sparked debates over their emotional risks.
Read on to learn about this week’s top tech stories.
The Clock is Still Ticking for TikTok
A deal to save TikTok from a U.S. ban was nearly finalized: U.S. investors would own 50% of a new American entity, while ByteDance (TikTok’s Chinese owner) would own under 20%, satisfying legal requirements.
But just as a draft executive order circulated, Trump’s new China tariffs triggered Beijing to back out.
In response, Trump extended TikTok’s deadline to mid-June — buying time as the app remains trapped in a high-stakes U.S.-China standoff.
How Trump’s TikTok Negotiations Were Upended by China and Tariffs | The New York Times
No Livestreams or Nudity Unblur Without Parental Consent
Meta is tightening its grip on teen safety. Starting in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, Instagram users under 16 won’t be able to go live or unblur nudity in DMs unless their parents approve.
The changes — part of Meta’s teen supervision rollout — are also coming to Facebook and Messenger, where teen accounts will now default to private, limit contact from strangers, restrict sensitive content, and nudge kids to log off after 60 minutes.
With over 54 million teen accounts created since last fall, Meta says these tools are designed to make screen time safer and shorter.
Kids under 16 will no longer be allowed to livestream on Instagram without parental consent | AP News
Adolescence is Trending on Netflix
Netflix’s Adolescence is quickly becoming a must-watch series, capturing the harsh realities of teenage life in a digital world.
The four-part drama, which centers on a 13-year-old boy accused of murder, is a fictional yet deeply moving exploration of how social media and family breakdowns shape teen behavior.
TikTok Trend Leads to Chemical Burns in Kids
A viral TikTok trend involving the NeeDoh Nice Cube, a gel-filled sensory toy, has led to chemical burns in kids.
The trend encourages microwaving and freezing the toy, causing it to explode and leak harmful gel.
Consumer Reports has called for an investigation into the toy’s safety, urging manufacturers to reassess the risks.
Dangerous TikTok Trend Involving Popular Sensory Toy Could Lead to Chemical Burns in Kids | Parents
A Voice Cloning Scam’s Terrifying Twist
A Colorado mother was tricked into wiring $2,000 after hearing what she believed was her daughter’s panicked voice begging for help over the phone.
The terrifying twist? It wasn’t her daughter.
Scammers had used AI voice cloning to fake the call, claiming the daughter had witnessed a drug deal and was being held for ransom.
The Panicked Voice on the Phone Sounds Like Her Daughter. It Wasn’t. | The Wall Street Journal
Senators Demand AI Safety After Chatbot Harm
Two U.S. senators are pushing AI companies like Character.AI, Chai, and Replika to disclose their safety practices following lawsuits from families, including a Florida mom whose son died by suicide.
The lawsuits claim that AI chatbots exposed children to harmful content and formed unsafe attachments.
The senators are asking for details on safety measures, training, and the handling of sensitive topics like self-harm and mental health.
Senators demand information from AI companion apps following kids’ safety concerns, lawsuits | CNN
Other Headlines
- Microsoft’s AI division head wants to create a lasting relationship between chatbots and their users | AP News
Did we miss anything?
Any other important tech news from this week? Let us know in the comments below.
Author Jackie Baucom
Jackie is a Gabb staff writer. She is the mother of four children and is passionate about keeping kids safe, happy, loved, and thriving. She has a degree in Mass Communication from the University of Utah.
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