Close to half of Americans favor TikTok ban -Reuters/Ipsos poll
By Michael Martina and David Shepardson WASHINGTON Close to half of American adults support a ban on the
2023-08-17 04:29
The Madonna squats challenge TikTok trend explained
Madonna's dance moves are part of the latest fitness trend that sees people have a go at the intense cardio routine. The Queen of Pop's choreography from her performance of the song 'Music' on her 2001 Drowned World Tour is the source of inspiration for this particular challenge, (though it's not for the faint-hearted). In the viral clip, Madonna - who was 43 years old at the time - can be seen doing 15 jump squats in sync with the beat of the music, all while wearing heeled boots too. Fans praised Madonna's performance as well as her fitness and stamina in comments. One person said: "The fact she did this at the END of the show." "15 squats IN HEELS! Fit inspiration," another person wrote. Someone else added: "I’m 31 and my knee hurts just watching." "Mother was mothering," a fourth person commented. @madonnaforinspiration June 9, 2001 —Madonna opened the „Drowned World Tour” in Barcelona. #madonna #music #drownedworldtour #2001 #barcelona #spain #pop #concerts #live #fy #fyp #madonnafans #queenofpop #lovemadonna #worldtour While the singer makes the workout seems effortless, TikToker has been having a go at doing the back-to-back squats in what has now become a viral challenge. TikToker @oliviavida05 gave the challenge a go and even sported similar heeled boots like Madonna had on - and she smashed it, also her video received 387,000 views. She wrote in the caption: "Losing count and doing an extra squat about did me in. She did it in boots so I grabbed mine," @oliviavida05 #duet with @Madonna for Inspiration #madonna Losing count and doing an extra squat about did me in. She did it in boots so I grabbed mine. #squats #madonnachallenge While @zuleth9 wore stilettos as she completed the Madonna squat challenge and channelled the popstar's energy and her video received nearly 530,000 views. "That was good! You’re the first one that actually does her head movements and spin at the end," one commenter wrote. @zuleth9 #dúo con @Madonna for Inspiration Madonna siempre 🔥🙌🏽🔝👠😅 cuantos squats contaron jajaa?? #madonna #colorit This jump squat is a basic lower-body exercise that can be used to build up and strengthen your leg muscles as it targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes and can be added to a high-intensity workout routine. Elsewhere, Madonna response to ‘ageism’ around Grammys appearance is truly iconic and Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna's 'boiled egg' face. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-16 00:21
Hawaii wildfires: 'Directed energy weapons' and other false claims go viral
Rumours that the disaster was orchestrated by elites with a laser have been seen by millions.
2023-08-15 05:17
Expert exposes just how dirty our belly buttons can get in grim TikTok
How often do you think about your belly button health? Probably not enough, at least according to Dr Karan Raj. Dr Raj is one of the most popular health experts on TikTok, regularly keeping his 5.2 million followers updated with videos discussing all manner of things in the medical world. One of his clips has exposed just how dirty our belly buttons can get – and highlighted just how dirty they can become if not properly cleaned. The video is informative – but you might want to look away if gross stuff makes you queasy. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter As he explained that if not properly maintained, the body can produce a “belly button stone” made up of all sorts of gunk. @dr.karanr #duet with @crinc_3 natural ornaments! #schoolwithdrkaran The video begins with a short section from fellow TikToker @crinc_3 which features the caption: "My partner told me they'd never cleaned their belly button because it hurt. So I cleaned it." "All flesh holes can build up with sweat, dead skin cells, oils, clothing fabric, bacteria and forbidden cheese,” Dr Raj said, commenting on the footage. "If not washed out on a regular basis, this material can accumulate and harden into an omphalolith – a belly button stone.” He added: "Belly button stones come in a wide array of colours, it's usually black but can be a light brown." The clip sparked a big reaction from TikTok users, with one writing: “I didn't have a fear of belly buttons until I saw the one behind your head.” Another said: “who else is checking their belly button right now LOL.” One more added: "Not me cleaning my belly button straight after watching this.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-09 19:16
TikTok of 'riverboat brawler' sparks confusion about its legitimacy
A man claiming to have been involved in the viral Alabama riverboat brawl has spoken out but people are sceptical about his identity. Footage of the brawl that took place at the Montgomery Riverfront Park in Alabama has swept social media sparking a whole host of memes. The incident is believed to have started when a disagreement between a male, believed to be a riverboat dock worker, and two other men escalated. An all-out brawl, involving multiple people, ensued and involved people using fold-up chairs as weapons and multiple people ending up in the water. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter It had to be broken up by police and four arrest warrants are currently in place. The town’s mayor made a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter). Mayor Steven L. Reed wrote: “Last night, the Montgomery Police Department acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job. Warrants have been signed and justice will be served. “This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred.” Now, a man claiming to have been involved in the fight has taken to TikTok to “speak out”, with the clip being viewed more than 10 million times. In the video shared on the TikTok account @nov10scorpio a man could be seen with two black eyes and tissue stuffed up both of his nostrils. Speaking to the camera, he said: “Well, turns out that 65-year-old man can really f**king throw ‘em.” @nov10scorpio SPEAKS OUT !! #montgomery #alabama #riverboatbrawl #river #chair #boat #brawl #riverboatfight #dmpd But, eagle-eyed TikTokers have disputed his involvement in the infamous Montgomery brawl, arguing that there were no older people involved. One person commented: “That ain’t him fr?!? Y’all playin lol.” Another said: “[There’s] no way this is actually him.” “I’m not even sure this is the same guy. I feel like I’ve seen this before, I think it might be an older video,” one person theorised. Someone else wrote: “I don’t think this is really one of them but it’s hilarious.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-08 18:59
Women left terrified after discovering 'secret tunnels' and 'peepholes' in their AirBnb
Two women were left fearful for their lives thanks to the “quirks and charms” of their Airbnb. The pair, named Tierra Burris and Scarlet Wolf, booked a two-week stay at a house in Portland, Oregon, which initially seemed “gorgeous”, with its hardwood floors and airconditioning in every room. However, they soon noticed that it had some far less desirable features, and some that were downright alarming. The friends gave TikTok users a whistlestop tour of the unusual old property, explaining that alarm bells first rang when they found a secret key. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Tierra explained that they’d been told they couldn’t use the front door to access the home and, instead, needed to use a back door that led into a bedroom. This seemed a little odd but fine to them – until they discovered “a tiny little hole” which contained another key to their door. Who it was for, they didn’t know. She then told viewers that they’d discovered a number of “strange tunnels [...] and ways through this home,” as well as an apparent “peephole”. “This one specifically has a big open space large enough for a human,” she explained. “Besides the cabinet that goes into the bedroom, wherein [...] there’s a peephole.” After noting that several doors upstairs “don’t properly close”, while some of the bedroom doors clearly “used [to have| locks”, but only on the outside, she showed that there were numerous other “warm dark holes that lead to other rooms”. They then went down to the basement which, strangely, only had two working lights. “This door leads to God knows where,” Tierra said before pointing out a “man-sized tunnel.” “Mind you, we are in Portland, Oregon right now where there's an active serial killer on the loose,” she then laughed. "Wow, isn't that crazy?” The TikToker then explained that she and Scarlet had confronted the landlady about the “sus” features, and she had told them: “It’s a recently renovated old Portland home – we wanted to keep its charm and quirks.” Tierra ended the video by stressing that they had paid $3,500 (around £2,750) for their stay. Addressing Airbnb she pleaded: “Give us our money back please.” @tierrasaurusrex Quirks and Charm @C @airbnb #scaryairbnb The video racked up more than 4.8 million views and 700,000 likes in just over a month, as viewers shared their horror at the situation and requested updates. Tierra duly obliged, and in the first follow-up she confirmed that they were still in the property but were now armed with knives as a “safety measure”. She then confirmed that she’d been “talking with Airbnb” who had “asked for evidence of everything”. Tierra said she’d told a rep for the homestay company “in the nicest way possible” that she wanted to leave and wanted a refund. “We feel very unsafe, especially with the key,” she explained. “We don't know who has access to this house, and we don't know anything about the rooms that we're not going to go into for our safety. “We're simply just two women travelling alone and we want to feel safe.” @tierrasaurusrex Replying to @Scarlet Wolf #greenscreen In a second follow-up, she addressed users’ suggestions that the “crawl spaces in the walls” of the house were a normal feature of old homes. “I've gotten a lot of comments[...] about storage spaces and old homes, and I really appreciate it. Honestly, that's really reassuring to hear,” she said. However, she added: “I just personally would feel a little more comfortable in a home without little tunnels and spaces that led everywhere in a home that I don't own or know about.” She continued: “On top of that, there's just a few too many things that seem a little off. And I guess you could try to explain all of them away in one way or another, but there are quite a few things that are wrong. “At the same time, I'm getting a little red flag in my head that might be called anxiety, maybe, but at the same time, I don't own this home, I don't know this home, I don't know the people who own this home, I don't know who could have had access to that key. “I'm not going to check what's in those little tunnels and I'd rather not know, and honestly, we're not going to be staying here another night.” @tierrasaurusrex Replying to @Erin🌞 we slept with knives Fellow TikTokers were quick to defend Tierra over her response, with one writing: “Validate women when we say we are uncomfortable!” Fortunately, the story doesn’t have a horror movie ending. Instead, Tierra and Scarlet made it out of the house alive and with a full refund. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-08 18:52
US tech groups back TikTok in challenge to Montana state ban
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two tech groups on Monday backed TikTok in its lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of
2023-08-08 10:54
Matt Hancock told 'we've had Kenough' as he covers Barbie song
Matt Hancock sent everyone a message over the weekend: He is Kenough. And people are divided by the performance. The track sung by Ryan Gosling featured in the record-breaking Barbie film, which has now grossed $1 billion at the box office. 'I'm Just Ken' has since soared in popularity. Not only has it hit the Billboard Hot 100 list, but it's also had many TikTok trends using the song as the new go-to audio. And now, Hancock has his hands on it with his very own rendition. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The viral clip was shared to TikTok on Sunday (6 August) and shows the former Health Secretary passionately miming Gosling's track lyrics while walking along the beach. Hancock's homemade music video view racked up a staggering 1.5 million views and over 16,000 comments from fellow TikTok users. Some people were quick to share they enjoyed the performance, with one writing: "Made my day Matt, cheers," while another added: "Really bringing the Kenergy right now." Meanwhile, a third commented: "This isn’t something I ever thought I would see. But cheers Matt. Cheered me right up!" @matthancock I am kenough!💪 #justken #barbenheimer #kenough Others believed it was "way too early for this" this Monday morning, as Hancock graced their FYPs at the crack of dawn. "I’ve officially had Kenough," one user chimed in, while another compared it to a "fever dream". "To think this man worked for the government is a joke," a third noted, while one described it as "iconic but also deeply, terribly unsettling." It comes after Boris Johnson was rumoured to be following in Hancock's I'm a Celeb foot steps. A spokesman for Johnson hit back at claims, telling The Sun: "Boris is not doing this programme and is not in talks to do so." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-07 16:17
Mum accidentally hires Barbie stripper for her daughter's 5th birthday party
A mother accidentally hired a stripper to come to her daughter's fifth birthday party - how appropriate. Posting on TikTok the daughter, who is now an adult, recalled the incident that happened when her parents tried to organise her a Barbie themed party but accidentally called up a stripper from the phone book. "She played along," the woman said. "She did not take off her clothes. I followed her around, thrilled that Barbie came to my birthday party and all of the parents there had a really good laugh". @joolia_go0lia #barbie #barbiebirthday #comeonbarbieletsgoparty #momfail #momcomedy Reacting to her story, people thought it was hilarious. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter "She was probably THRILLED to have that experience," one commented. Another said: "Amazing story, what a sweetheart she went along with it. We need photos!" A third said: "Barbie can be a doctor, a gymnast, or an adult entertainer! She's her own woman." And one person said they also had an inappropriate birthday when they were a child. "My mom accidentally served a rum cake at one of my parties when I was kid," they wrote. Parenting is no walk in the park. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-05 19:16
What happened to Christopher Rooney as TikTok star found after going missing
A TikTok-famous creator Chris Rooney has been found safe after going missing in Fredericksburg Virginia. Concerns grew for Rooney, famously known as the "Yeet Baby" creator, who was last seen on July 25 in his town of 30,000 people. In a since-deleted story on his Instagram account, they said: "He has been found safe. He is safe. Thank you for your prayers." The news of his disappearance soon hit social media, where fans frantically tried to piece together his whereabouts. Before he was found, one creator by the name of @joysparkleshine took to TikTok to explain the situation. She later followed up with an update, informing followers he had been found. The 35-year-old gained viral fame when he started posting on TikTok in January 2020. He is the man behind the "Yeet Baby" account that has since racked up 5.6 million followers. On the account, Rooney frequently posts clips with his niece Marleigh. Rooney is married to his wife, Emily, and the pair share Louie the cat together. Reports have suggested the pair are going through a divorce. Their separation was confirmed in one of his TikToks. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter It comes after a Reddit post went viral which saw Rooney respond to a TikTok troll that said: "Alcohol is poison. You lost your beautiful wife because of it so that tells me you need to stop drinking 100 per cent. Have you tried naltrexone? Reddit - Dive into anything from tiktokgossip "If a man said something like this to my face, with such confidence and such inaccuracy… that it’s not even remotely true… Comments like this, they trigger me," he said. "They make me an angry person. So please don’t make me an angry person. Because if I’m around other angry people, you know… we’re going to have to get to fighting because too many stupid comments like this." Officials have not yet disclosed the circumstances behind Rooney's disappearance. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-04 18:20
Exclusive-TikTok in talks to gain Indonesian payments licence
By Stefanno Sulaiman JAKARTA TikTok told Reuters it is in early-stage talks with regulators to obtain a payments
2023-08-04 16:17
Hyundai fire risk warning as 91,000 vehicles recalled
The recall is the latest in a series of fire-related recalls of Hyundai and Kia models in recent years.
2023-08-04 11:16