TikTok’s tumultuous journey: from global sensation to geopolitical bargaining chipA timeline of TikTok’s journey from obscure app to viral global hit3-MIN READ3-MIN2 ListenPublished: 8:00pm, 26 Sep 2025Updated: 10:39pm, 26 Sep 2025Beijing-based ByteDance launched the international version of its short video app in 2017. TikTok soon became a global hit thanks to its advanced algorithm. This success, however, drew the attention of the US government and others, which raised concerns about data privacy and national security.After a rocky few years, TikTok seems ready to secure a permanent foothold in the US market via a deal that would see American investors control the US operations.The following timeline plots TikTok’s journey.2012March – Zhang Yiming establishes ByteDance in Beijing.2016September – ByteDance launches Douyin, a social media platform based on user-generated short videos. Douyin would only be available in mainland China.Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x