TikTok once again dominated the news cycle in this edition of our weekend roundup. Earlier this week, TikTok made its app available to download directly from its website, essentially encouraging Android users to bypass app stores and sideload the app instead. This was then followed up by the app stores making TikTok available for purchase — and we have a sneaky feeling the two things are related.
This week, we also discussed how to navigate man on the street interviews, Buzzfeed’s new social media app, and our parasocial relationship with Andrew Callaghan, with whom we had an interview. To learn more about this, keep reading!
Android Users Can Now Download TikTok From Its Website
Since the TikTok ban was implemented on Jan. 19, the app has been removed from both the App Store and Google Play. Under the “ban or sell” law, app stores are prohibited from listing TikTok. While Trump’s executive order promises that these rules will remain unenforced until April 5, TikTok’s continual absence suggests that these stores aren’t taking their chances.
This left countless users without any possible way of getting the app, but now, Android users have another option. This is because TikTok has made its app available to download from its website, thus giving Android users the option of sideloading it onto their phones. Endorsing sideloading is a bold statement from TikTok, so to find out more, check out the article here.
My (Dis)Enchantment with Andrew Callaghan
Andrew Callaghan was once an esteemed documentarian. However, everything changed in January 2023, during which two women accused him of sexual misconduct. After posting an apology, he ended up leaving the internet for a year. But upon his return, something changed about Channel 5.
Before, he interviewed people at far-right rallies and furry conventions. Now, he produces content about the Gaza Strip and San Francisco’s crime rate. Callaghan discusses his evolution and more in an interview with Passionfruit, as writer Steven Asarch reckons with his own self-confessed “parasocial” relationship with the creator. It’s definitely not one to miss, so to read the piece in full, click here.
How To Nail Man on the Street Interviews From Someone Who’s Been in the Trenches
When it comes to man on the street interviews, Passionfruit writer Liz Plank is a veteran. She started out at Mic and Vox and chatted with people from all walks of life, from political marches to Las Vegas nightclubs. She then honed this experience to co-found Hotties for Harris: an initiative that helped creators make political man on the street videos during election season.
As she points out in this article for Passionfruit, “there is an art to ambushing unsuspecting men on the street with questions no one has ever asked them before.” So, she has written a guide for us on how to make the most of your on the street interviews. Some of her tips include always going in with an angle, going where people are bored, and making it as fun as possible. You can read the full piece with all the tips and tricks here.
BuzzFeed Is Developing an AI-Driven Social Media Platform
This week, Buzzfeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti released a manifesto-style document announcing the development of an all-new social media platform built from existing LLMs. The main attraction of this platform, which is set to be called BFIsland, is that it will enable users to create posts with the help of AI. Think of it as a more sociable version of Midjourney.
However, similar to X, BFIsland is set to feature a freemium model. While all users will get a limited amount of AI options, more advanced features will only be available to paying subscribers. According to Axios, a private beta of the social network will be available later in 2025. To find out more about BFIsland, which claims to “do the doomscrolling for you,” click here.
TikTok Has Returned to App Stores
After nearly a month, TikTok has officially returned to app stores as of Feb. 13. This means that iPhone and Apple users are now able to download the app again as normal. While Trump issued an executive order to pause the “ban or sell” law implemented on Jan. 19, it seems like Google and Apple were too spooked by the potential fines for hosting the app. But after US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter signaling the ok, the tech giants finally relented.
Passionfruit previously reported on how users have tried to get around their lack of TikTok, including sideloading and even buying smartphones with TikTok pre-installed. Arguably, TikTok’s recent promotion of sideloading influenced this move by Apple and Google, but like a lot of things concerning TikTok, that remains to be seen. You can read the full piece here.
Passionfruit on YouTube: The Reactorverse Podcast Episode 48
This week on the Reactorverse podcast, Passionfruit welcomed the dynamic duo behind The Media Knights: Ari and Denise. With 272,000 YouTube subscribers, Ari and Denise have built an audience based on their shared love of filmmaking, as they commit themselves to “learning more about the process one film at a time.”
During the podcast, we discussed the rollercoaster that comes with being a creator in the reactor space. This includes a look-back at their first reactions, their changeable relationship with YouTube, and what inspires them to keep going when times get tough. This isn’t one to miss, so to find out more, check out the full episode linked above.
