Algorithms, which are just sets of instructions expressed in code, are harder to restrict than physical goods. But governments, including the U.S., have long tried to prevent their export. The ...

A deal between the U.S. and China over the ownership of TikTok includes new stipulations over who controls the social media company's algorithm, a closely guarded secret which has proved to be a major ...

Flat vector illustration created from hand drawn doodles and textures depicting different people using wireless technology. Ever wondered how social media platforms decide how to fill our feeds? They ...

An exclusive excerpt from Every Screen On The Planet reveals how the social media app’s powerful recommendation engine was shaped by a bunch of ordinary, twentysomething curators—including a guy named ...

Chinese tech giant ByteDance finalized its agreement to sell a majority stake in its video platform TikTok to a group of U.S. investors. TikTok announced on Jan. 22, 2026, that it has formed TikTok ...

While the creation of this new entity marks a big step toward avoiding a U.S. ban, as well as easing trade and tech-related tensions between Washington and Beijing, there is still uncertainty ...

Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. TikTok’s algorithm, which shapes what more than a billion users see, has developed an almost mystical reputation for ...