TikTok

Book excerpt: Since its acquisition and rebranding in 2018, TikTok has become one of the fastest growing platforms in the world. Moreover, it's the first Chinese-developed platform to find mainstream international success, carving its own niche in the global short video industry. In the first comprehensive exploration of TikTok, Kaye, Zeng, and Wikström provide a history of the emergent genre of short video and situate the platform within the cultures and controversies that have accompanied its dramatic growth. They provide an extensive overview of TikTok's functions and uses, the diverse markets in which the platform operates, and the issues of governance that have impacted its expansion. Once thought to be 'just for kids', the authors illustrate how TikTok is further transforming platform cultures and the dynamics of broader creative industries. TikTok, the authors argue, represents an evolutionary step in the way culture is produced and consumed on digital platforms. This timely book is essential reading for students and scholars in media and communication studies and for anyone who has been captivated by the global growth of TikTok and short video.