Are you on TikTok for your daily dose of fun, quickie news, and shopping? I’m not, but all the Gen Z I know are, as well as the older ones who treat the app as their perfect escape from the horrors of the world.
I have a dear friend who performs for her own dance playlist on TikTok; I watch and enjoy it each time she shares her TikTok video on Facebook. Rappler is on TikTok as well, where we do smart and short takes on complex issues and poke fun at power.
- Have you met Rappler’s own Teacher Rubilyn? No? I’m sorry for you. Here she is.
- Rappler’s resident economist JC Punongbayan turns rigid economic numbers into nuggets of wisdom here.
- Rappler religion reporter Paterno Esmaquel II occasionally gives his news reflection — and it’s usually a riot.
- Have you watched Rappler senior reporter Lian Buan’s Inside Track? Here’s the tea.
But TikTok does harm our online space. To American lawmakers, TikTok had become a security risk, prompting them to craft a law that ordered its Chinese mother company ByteDance to sell the platform by January 19 or face a ban. TikTok went dark in the US over the weekend, ahead of the ban. Stars and celebrities expressed hopes it’s short-lived.
It was, thanks to US President Donald Trump (inaugurated shortly past midnight later, Manila time), who announced he will issue an executive order extending the time before the ban takes effect and allow for a round of negotiations with the platform. Trump said he wants 50-percent American ownership of ByteDance.
In the Philippines, the fastest-growing social media platform has now become the country’s biggest flea market of wrong information and false advertising.
- Our former campus journalist-fellow based in Leyte tells us how TikTok spreads false cures, false hopes. The platform did take down some of the videos we flagged; but it’s never enough.
- TikTok budol is real, writes our current fellow who lives in Pampanga.
- The Department of Migrant Workers has removed 71,000 fake job listings on Facebook and TikTok in 2024.
Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss:
- The social media army of the Dutertes is very much alive. Read about their online defense of the embattled Vice President Sara Duterte in this story.
- An insight from the frontlines by Rappler religion reporter Paterno Esmaquel II, who covered the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally in support of the Vice President.
- Our environment team, editor Jee Geronimo and reporter Iya Gozum, talk about the joy of running. Watch the latest episode of The Green Report.
- Rappler interns worked with our data team to tell us what songs and artists Filipinos listened to in 2024.
- Meet two broadcasters in Cebu who have built their own online news brands outside traditional media organizations in The rise of journalist-creators in Cebu.
We begin the week with America being now officially under Trump, who said at a pre-inaguration rally: “By the time the sun sets tomorrow, the invasion of our country will have come to a halt.” On the other side of the globe, a ceasefire in Gaza finally took place.
To peace!
LIVESTREAM: Sinulog Ritual Dance Showdown and Street Parade 2025 in Cebu
Sinulog 2025 in Cebu City opened on Sunday, January 19.
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[OPINION] How forest fires heal the land
The Los Angeles wildfires and disruptions in the Cordilleras should prompt us to think more deeply about indigenous practices.
The road to the UN Security Council
Manila expands its gaze to Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands.
– Rappler.com
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The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.