TikTok开启自救之路：将启动2亿美元基金，发放给美国优质内容创作者
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7月以来，海外版抖音TikTok多次遭遇美国政府的恶意攻击。然而，它并没有坐以待毙，而是开启了一条自救之路。
日前，TikTok宣布已成立一支2亿美元的基金，旨在向拥有大量粉丝的用户发放现金，以鼓励他们继续提供优质的原创内容。同时，公司也希望通过此举来增加用户黏性。
此前，TikTok曾尝试多种方式帮助用户变现。比如，帮助平台用户寻找合作商、协助他们与好莱坞的经纪公司达成合作等。这次新成立的基金，则将帮助美国的优质内容创作者直接从TikTok谋得生计。
据悉，该基金将于8月向申请者开放，申请人必须满足一定条件，包括年满18周岁、拥有一定基准的粉丝数量等。
TikTok, the social media app owned by China's ByteDance Ltd., is giving its top U.S. talent a reason to stick around, even as President Donald Trump threatens a ban. TikTok created a $200 million fund that will be distributed to some U.S. users with large followings to encourage them to continue providing innovative content, the company said.
TikTok already helps its stars find advertising partnerships and deals with Hollywood talent agencies. Now the fund will help ensure U.S creators earn livelihoods directly from TikTok, too.
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U.S. creators will have to apply for the fund starting in August. They must be over 18, post consistently and meet a certain follower threshold. TikTok stars' "ability to connect with and bring joy to large audiences has already propelled thousands of creators into brand partnerships, sponsorships, and representation deals with some of Hollywood's biggest talent agencies," Vanessa Pappas, the app's U.S. general manager, said in a blog post. "In a relatively short time, TikTok has grown to become a source of income and opportunity for creators and their families." Eventually, TikTok will explore similar funds in other countries.
Earlier this month, the president said he might do so as a retaliation against China. Other U.S. government officials, including Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, have warned against using TikTok for data security reasons, so information on U.S. citizens doesn't fall into the hands of the Chinese government.
However TikTok has repeatedly said no U.S. data is stored on Chinese servers or sent to Beijing.
Meanwhile, the app has gained in popularity. In the U.S., TikTok has been downloaded more than 165 million times, according to Sensor Tower.