According to Charle, TikTok has 1.6 billion active users, making it the fifth most active social media platform, just behind Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.

However, the app is facing a ban in the US which is set to occur in the next couple of days – which was, in turn, influenced by lawmakers accusing ByteDance, the company who owns TikTok, of having links with the Chinese government, which they have continuously denied.

While a federal appeal to ban TikTok was overturned last year, many hope that newly-elected President Donald Trump will veto it.

Because of it’s wide reach, many famous faces began their career on the app – with the most popular to date being the D’Amelio sisters.

Charli and Dixie both started out on TikTok and have since grown to create huge careers for themselves, though they still hold some weight on the site with Charli being the second-most followed person at 155.7 million followers, as per Dexetro, while Dixie sits at 55.3 million.

Forbes also reported that the D’Amelio sisters have earned more than $70 million since 2020, and since shooting to fame, they have used their status to promote products for Amazon, Prada and Abercrombie.

And now, their dad Marc D’Amelio has spoken out against the ban and condemned it as ‘un-American’.

In an interview with The Times, he said: “It’s so un-American for our government to ban something that has been such an important part of the average American citizen’s life – having a platform for free speech, and protecting our First Amendment rights.

“We’ve been on TikTok for almost five years now, starting when it was in its infancy, so we have been able to leverage all of the positive things that we got from TikTok with other platforms.

“For anyone, for half of their business or their potential following to disappear would be impactful. I do think we’re blessed and lucky to have been able to be involved with TikTok for five years.

Marc D’Amelio, the father of Charli and Dixie, has condemned the incoming TikTok ban (Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)

“I’m more concerned about the people who are new, and have used the platform to help their small business. And I’m concerned about these smaller creators, that depend on TikTok for income. For that to be shut down, when maybe they haven’t had the longevity on the platform we’ve had, is sad.”

Marc is also critical of the reasoning behind the ban, adding: “If somebody in China knows my whereabouts, or knows that I watch this kind of content, no one’s able to articulate how that will affect me in any way.

“If the government is going to protect us from that, are they protecting us from every other platform that could spoon feed us information?

“If we’re going to do that, let’s do it for all platforms and not just single out TikTok.”

Despite his objections, however, it appears that he’s not too worried about his family’s future, according to The Times.

While this may be the end of TikTok in the US, another app has since risen as the most downloaded app following the news.

When it comes to plane etiquette, we all know the widely accepted advice.

You should arrive at the airport a few hours before your flight, ensure your bags are under the airline’s weight limits and avoid opening peanuts if somebody on the plane has an allergy.

Oh, and make sure everyone in your party is travelling together where you need them to be, or else you might be on the receiving end of social media users’ opinions.

Parker was CEO of American Airlines from 2001 to 2023, so you’d assume the man knows his stuff.

He divulged his words of wisdom whilst appearing on the Airlines Confidential podcast.

Although he admitted that there was no ‘silver bullet’ to smooth travelling, he did have one piece of advice that he often dished out – don’t check in bags.

He explained (via The Independent): “It’s not that airlines don’t know how to get [the bag] there, but it’s just incredibly complex and it makes your experience much more difficult. So that’s my major tip to anybody, just figure out a way, no matter where you’re going, to get it into your carry-on and don’t check a bag.”

There’s a possibility Parker might be on to something.

According to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2 million bags are lost by airlines a year, with unsuccessful baggage being shipped to a warehouse in Scottsboro, Alabama to become part of Unclaimed Baggage, which the company’s website says has ‘purchasing agreements for unclaimed items with all domestic airlines and other travel and transportation companies’.

The warehouse usually sells about a third of it’s intake, while many items are donated or recycled, says The Independent.

Travelling with luggage can sometimes turn complicated (Getty Stock Images)

A 2024 SITA Baggage IT Insights survey also found that 10 per cent increase in baggage mishandling in 2023, with 77 per cent being delayed while 18 per cent was damaged.

Checking a bag in on an American Airlines domestic flight will also set you back £32 ($40) – or £28 ($35) if you book online – as reported by Metro.

By way of comparison, all carry-on bags are free to take onboard.

A second carry-on bag will hit you in the wallet though, at a cost of £36 ($45) – that’s if your bag weighs under 22kg and has a dimension smaller than 62 inches by 158cm – any bigger than that and you’re looking at a bill which could take you up to $200 (£164).

Things aren’t much cheaper over in the UK, where a 10kg check-in bag with Ryanair can cost anything between £10 and £45, while oversized luggage can lead to a £12 for every additional kilogram.

But it’s not just the luggage we need to think about, as Parker also suggests to think about the staff.

“A better tip is just be nice to the people that are out there working. It’s not just pablum. While it’s hard for the traveler, that makes it harder on the people that are out there.” he said.

According to Sky News, it was ruled by the US Supreme Court that from Sunday (19 January), TikTok will be removed from Google and Android stores if it is not sold by it’s parent company – leaving many Americans without access to the app.

As of 2025 (via Charle.com), TikTok is the fifth most active social media platform with 1.6 billion active users, just coming up shy of Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.

But how will the ban affect things across the pond in the UK?

Why is the TikTok ban happening?

A ban against TikTok was initially proposed during Donald Trump’s first run as President, with Trump claiming that the app was exposing massive amounts of US data to the Chinese government.

An executive order said (via USA Today): “These risks are real. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information − potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.”

However, this was dropped by President Joe Biden’s administration.

In April 2024, congress, as well as President Biden, signed a bill ordering ByteDance, who own TikTok, to sell it to an approved buyer or else face an app shutdown.

The concern was due to lawmakers accusing ByteDance of having links to the Chinese government, therefore posing a safety threat, but ByteDance has continuously denied any connections and have previously stated they wouldn’t sell the app.

What does the ban mean for UK users?

It won’t have a direct impact as UK app stores are governed by UK legalisation, however, there are concerns of the knock-on effect it could have.

According to Yahoo!, the US is the country providing the app with most of its English speaking users and a ban could mean depriving UK users of their favourite content creators from across the Atlantic.

And it won’t just be viewers feeling the pinch as UK creators could lose huge chunks of their audiences, which is of particular concern for TikTokers who make their living off the app.

The TikTok ban in the US could impact users in the UK – though not massively (Getty Stock Images)

Could the UK ban TikTok?

While there’s no news of an official ban across the country, the UK has previously implemented a ban on the work phones of ministers and civil servants – though Yahoo! say an exemption is made for those who need it for work purposes.

Can it be stopped?

There’s only one way the ban could be stopped – and that’s if Trump decides to veto it when stepping into his second run as President.

And despite his previous attempt to ban it, he has since softened his stance, as he says he has a ‘warm spot’ for the app, USA Today reports, and even vowed to ‘save’ the platform where his campaign generated ‘millions of views’.

He even credited the app for helping him win the election, Sky News says. But while he can undermine it, he may not have the power to overturn it.

What is Rednote?

Since the news broke, another app called Rednote has since grown in popularity as a ‘TikTok replacement’.

The platform is owned by Shanghai-based company Xingyin Information Technology and allows users to share photos and videos from their daily lives, as well as shop online.

Numerous people have documented their move to Rednote, with Reuters reporting that more than 700,000 ‘TikTok refugees’ joined the platform.

This can involve using a burner phone to contact their side piece or ‘staying late’ at work for some action.

But for many cheaters, it involves slipping off to a secret location to meet their lover.

A private investigator with over 30 years’ experience has revealed where most cheating spouses pick up the other woman.

Appearing on Ian Bick’s podcast, Connecticut-based private detective Ranno divulged details on where unfaithful spouses commit adultery.

He said: “Say I’m hired by a wife to follow the husband, [he goes to the] gas station or carwash, always carwash.”

When Bick asked the carwash was such a popular spot, Ranno replied: “If a guy’s going to pick up his sweetie on the side, he wants a clean car.

“So if somebody goes to the carwash, I always go ‘What’s next?’

“Definitely, all the time! It’s amazing how they do that.”

Do female cheaters differ when it comes to selecting a location?

Anyone with a clean car is clearly up to no good (Getty Stock Image)

Ranno said: “[Women] don’t care as much, they’ll just jump into the guy’s car.

“Men always want to drive. It’s very rare that I’ll find a guy jump into a female’s car.

“It just doesn’t happen that often.”

When Bick asked how far away the pick-up spot would be from their house, Ranno gave a shocking answer.

“Very close, sometimes on the same street,” he replied.

“I’ve had people cheating on the same street, but most times, it’s within the town or the next town over.

“And it’s usually work related most of the time.”

Should a cheating spouse head into a bar with their lover, Ranno will follow them in.

He explained: “I need tools there, I can’t go walking in with my iPhone shooting video.

“So I’ll walk in with a key fob and it has a pinhole lens.

“I turn it on, put it on the bar and sit there with a beer, let the camera do all the work.”

That takes ‘work smart not hard’ to a whole new level, huh?

Cheaters often have patterns of noticeable behaviour.

A body language expert previously warned of signs that a partner is being unfaithful.

These signs include getting defensive when asked about work, avoiding eye contact, a lot of tension, keeping their phone close to them and walking at a fast pace.

The professions most likely to cheat were also revealed – with salespeople topping the list, closely followed by those working in education.

And as a lot of people are still traumatised from our lateral flow days circa 2020, they seem keen to get acquainted with exactly what goes down.

Dr Zachary Rubin, better known online as @rubin_allergy, offered some expert insight into how healthcare professionals confirm whether a patient has the respiratory infection or not.

It can be quite difficult to determine whether you have human metapneumovirus (HMPV) or just the usual bout of flu, as the symptoms are so similar.

Most of us would be fine if we contracted the seasonal illness, which can bring on a cough, fever and nasal issues – which is a good job, as there is no specific treatment for it.

However, it can be severe for people who have lung conditions, are immune compromised, the elderly and young children, with the potential for it to lead to bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

So, doing your bit to stop the spread of HMPV should be high on your list of priorities, even if you don’t fall into one of those categories.

Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, told Surrey Live: “If you have symptoms such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.

“There are many viruses in circulation at the moment, including flu – if you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and you need to go out, our advice continues to be that you should consider wearing a face mask.”

If you do think you may have contracted the illness, don’t worry about the scenario of heading to your GP and getting it confirmed.

How does a HMPV test work?

Dr Rubin stitched a video on TikTok which had shared by a creator who claimed they found the HMPV test ‘worse’ than the Covid-19 swabs.

“I want to clarify some misconceptions regarding HMPV,” the allergist and immunologist told his 1.4 million followers.

“It sounds scary and you may have heard about it on the news recently, because in China there were a lot of cases of this virus and some media outlets were trying to say this was the next Covid-19…but it is far from that.

“The virus has been around for over 20 years, we have known a lot about it.

“It causes similar symptoms to influenza, it is an upper respiratory virus that is spread through respiratory droplets and you test it just like RSV, influenza and Covid-19… through a nasal swab.”

Dr Zachary Rubin revealed what a HMPV test is really like (TikTok/@rubin_allergy)

So, unlike the social media user had initially suggested, the HMPV test isn’t ‘worse’ than the coronavirus one… as it’s pretty much the same.

Dr Rubin added: “[The swab] is not placed anywhere else on your body and, in fact, for many years we have had tests available where we can actually test for multiple viruses at the same time, including human metapneumovirus.”

I guess you really shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet then, eh?

Social media users collectively breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Dr Rubin’s video, with many taking to the comment section to thank him for offering some reassurance.

One wrote: “You do not know how much weight you just took off my shoulders.”

Another said: “I think people may just be surprised with how far the nasal swab in the doctor’s office goes back. No big deal! But when I had it done it was a bit startling at first.”

A third added: “The worst thing about nasal swabs is that usually you’re feeling like garbage already and that swab is just so uncomfortably painful.”

A fourth commented: “It’s a bit spicy, but very quick and great for finding out if you have a virus or not.”

While a fifth chimed in suggesting that the content creator was confusing the HMPV test with the test for HPV, to which Dr Rubin simply replied: “Yep.”

For those who aren’t aware, the test for human papillomavirus (HPV) for women is quite invasive, as it involves taking a small sample of cells from the cervix.

There is currently no approved screening test for men who suspect they might have HPV.

The North Bristol NHS Trust explain that a molecular assay (NAAT) is a test which can diagnose HMPV, which involves taking a swab of a patients nose and throat.

It states that other tests which are conducted on the sample include ‘influenza A and B, RSV, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1,2,3,4 Rhinovirus, coronavirus, MERS-CoV, Chlamydia pneumoniae and mycoplasma pneumoniae’.

The YouTuber, who goes by Howfinity on the platform, is known for his technology-focused videos, tutorials and tips for his 975,000+ subscribers.

In one of his helpful tutorials, he explained exactly how the TikTok Creator Fund works, and how he managed to make money off his social media content.

So, how easy is it to get TikTok famous?

The content creator revealed what really happens when you join the creator fund (YouTube/Howfinity)

Well, he explained he wanted to show people how much he was paid as part of the fund, as people may not be ‘familiar with this’.

For those who don’t know, the TikTok Creator Fund is what pays creators for their content on the platform, as there are certain amounts of earnings you can get based on how many views you manage to get.

How do you qualify for the TikTok Creator Fund?

All you need is to be over the age of 18, have at least 10,000 followers or 100,000 views in the last 30 days, and consistently post your own content that doesn’t violate community guidelines.

Piece of cake, then.

After getting approved, you can start making money off your videos, and track your analytics on both the app and the website.

He revealed he had garnered 3.9 million views in the week or so that he had made the account.

Unfortunately, about 2.7 million of the views were gained before he was accepted into the programme, though he explained he had a formula for ‘going viral’ that he replicated to get over a million views after being accepted by the creator fund.

He counted that 1.2 million of his views were monetised, and revealed that over five days of getting paid, the account earned him $36.64 (£30) from his million-or-so views.

On the first day, he got $6.09, going up to $23.14, a day where one of his videos went viral, before dropping back down to $3.50, $2.80, and then $1.11 for the rest of the week.

Maybe it isn’t worth the effort to get TikTok famous. Dreams crushed.

Howfinity did explain how to make the most of TikTok though, due to ‘the ability to go viral, get a lot of viewers and then get people to other platforms or products or services.’

He was paid just $36 in five days (YouTube/Howfinity)

Users were shocked at how little he made, as one commented: “It seems like TikTok is great for promoting your brand, but not the best for actually making money, unless you’re one of the big boys.”

Another said: “So, I see that they pay very little, so I better not quit my day job.”

A third joked: “Better off working fast food and working the fryer and everything else at the same time, glad i helped y’all.”

The 52-year-old has been open about the fact that he’s gone under the knife several times so that he can stay fresh-faced.

But as a result of this, he says that only a ‘very little’ bit of his original mug remains.

Carr previously explained that throughout the course of his career, he has completely overhauled his look with ‘tweakments’ such as Botox, veneers and a hair transplant.

In 2021, the 8 Out of 10 Cats host revealed that he had something of a ‘midlife crisis’ about his appearance as he reckoned he looks much more attractive on TV than in real life.

“It’s the illusion of being on TV,” he said. “You see yourself in full make up, looking your best and lit well, then you look in the mirror and go, ‘Oof, that’s disappointing.'”

During an appearance on Gabby Logan’s Midpoint podcast at the time, he listed off some of the augmentations he has had.

“I’ve gone a bit crazy with it, I’ve got the new teeth and the new hair – I’ve had a proper midlife crisis,” Carr joked. “Like, right, let’s get everything done.

“I got my teeth done, that’s the first thing I had done. They’re more than veneers. I got every tooth in my head done in one sitting.”

The comedian – who split opinion online last year after sharing some of his so-called ‘darkest jokes’ – said he was left in a ‘dream-like haze’ after three days in the dentist.

He then compared his face to Trigger’s broom from Only Fools and Horses, which famously had ’17 new heads and 14 new handles’.

The funnyman – who shares a six-year-old son with partner Karoline Copping – continued: “I’ve had a little bit of Botox, some filler – everything I can get done.

“My face is now like Trigger’s broom from Only Fools and Horses, very little of the original is still there. Maintaining is the thing.

“I don’t think there’s anything you can do plastic surgery wise, or augmentation wise, that makes you look better. You can just sort it, stay the same, that’s what you can hope for.”

In typical Jimmy Carr fashion, the London-born star then made a wisecrack about a fellow cosmetic procedure-loving celebrity.

He added: “I was seeing a guy, getting a bit of Botox, and I was chatting to him and he said, ‘Oh I do Simon Cowell’.

“And I went, ‘Yeah I think I better leave…What have you done? He looks like a melted candle!'”

Carr has also worked his tweaks into his stand-up routines over the years, making himself the butt of the joke.

In 2022, he laughed: “At least I’ll still look the part. Thanks to the wonders of my plastic surgeon, I’m hoping my son won’t realise I’m older than the other dads.

“He’ll come and talk to me about his problems because, unlike the other dads, I’ll never seem shocked or surprised, disappointed or sad, primarily because Botox has robbed me of the ability to move my forehead.”

The comedian pictured in June 2004 (Fred Duval/FilmMagic)

Carr then added: “Just like everyone else you know, I’m going to die, although in my case, large parts of me will not biodegrade. I imagine my teeth will outlive us all.”

He also discussed how he underwent a hair transplant to hang onto his iconic black hair – as he joked that he had started to look like a ‘vampire’s accountant’ due to his widow’s peak.

Discussing the procedure on Logan’s podcast, Carr said: “You need a plastic surgeon who is qualified to do it. The guy I used is a plastic surgeon and has an aesthetic thing.

“They get it from the back of the head. You shave your head fully, which I loved, I kind of suited a shaved head, which surprised me.

“I’ve had the same hairline since I was 17, I had a big widow’s peak. I looked like a vampire’s accountant. It was just post lockdown I got it done.”

Carr also revealed that his surgeon had stopped him from having buccal fat reduction to get rid of his ‘chubby little cheeks’.

Speaking on the Happy Hallow Jeans podcast in March last year, he said: “I’d asked him about buccal fat reduction, one of the guys from One Direction had it done, I think. It doesn’t matter how much weight I lose.

“I could be 50kg and I would still have chubby cheeks. But they take out the fat from here [pointing to his cheeks] so that you look chiselled and model-y.”

But according to his surgeon, Carr could have easily ended up looking worse for it in his 50s, so he opted against it.

The Colombian-American actor is of course well-known for playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in Modern Family. She’s had heaps of other major roles throughout her stellar career but for many, it’s her role in the legendary TV series that can never be forgotten.

But working with Vergara on the sitcom is perhaps something this star would rather forget.

Over its whopping 11 seasons, Modern Family has a whole load of celebrity cameos, from Kevin Hart and Stephanie Beatriz to James Marsden and Leslie Mann. And in 2019, Kelly Mantle guest starred in the episode, ‘The Last Halloween’.

Vergara played Gloria throughout the 11 seasons. (Jill Greenberg via Getty Images)

A co-star of Vergara’s for the cameo, the drag queen appeared on The Bald and the Beautiful podcast where she was asked who was the ‘most rude celebrity’ she’s met.

Mantle was quick to say ‘Modern Family’ before revealing Vergara as her answer.

“Maybe it was just a bad day, I’m just going to say it was a bad day,” she explained. “Because she’s hilarious and beautiful and talented and gorgeous and wonderful. So I’m sure it was just a bad day.”

The star went on to say it was ‘not the most pleasant experience’ she’s had on set.

“It wasn’t toward me, it was the way some of her staff was being treated,” Mantle added.

Mantle made a cameo in ‘The Last Halloween’. (ABC)

The performer explained that during the episode, Vergara is wearing a wig and insisted against having ‘bobby pins’ used to keep it in place.

“In the shot, they yell ‘action’, and I’m supposed to put the crown on her hair, so I put the crown on and they say ‘cut’,” Mantle recalled.

“And she’s like ‘watch out for the wig, you’re putting the crown on my head’. And I said, ‘Well girl, you should have put those bobby pins in.’”

Mantle claimed it was ‘more than’ just that one exchange but ‘that was one of the little things that happened that day’ on set.

Famously an awards show where the stars have a bit of a joke with one another in the audience, the Griselda star yelled out: “No, no! Not again! Give me one!”

Foster had won the best TV actress award for True Detective: Night Country, beating out Vergara for her performance in the Netflix series.