🕵️ Cheater, cheater: A TikTok PI revealed a sneaky trick cheaters use, and it’s one I’ve been warning you about for a decade. In the Apple Notes app preinstalled on every iPhone, you can share a note. It’s way more hidden than talking through text. A note has been shared if there’s a little icon of a person next to it. I’m not telling you to go spy; I’m just sharing the tricks of the trade.
The folks trading retirement for influencer status
TikTok.com/@therealirvinrandle, Instagram.com/trainwithjoan, Instagram.com/grandmajoysroadtrip
Who do you imagine when I say “social media influencer?” I’ll bet a young, hot model or a chiseled guy into cars. It’s time to expand your horizons.
I love that Joy Ryan didn’t even get her passport until she was 91. At 94, she’s on a mission to visit every continent with her grandson. So far, she’s at four out of seven. Joy is also the oldest person to visit all 63 U.S. national parks.
She’s posting “Grandma Joy’s Road Trip” on Instagram. She’s part of the trend of “grandfluencers” (“grandparent” and “influencer”) racking up millions of followers and fans of all ages. Maybe this is your sign to get this idea going with your grandparents, parents or even yourself.
Defying stereotypes
You probably think grandfluencers’ fans are older adults, too, right? Nope, most are young adults.
Take 94-year-old Lillian Droniak, aka “Grandma Droniak.” She went viral by laying down the three rules she wants people to follow at her funeral: Cry, but not too much (don’t embarrass yourself); Bertha isn’t invited (Who’s she?); and get drunk afterward.
Her 14.6 million TikTok followers love her sass, and I do, too. After she was hospitalized for breaking her leg, she shrugged it off, saying she “slayed too hard.” Love her.
Then, there’s 78-year-old Joan MacDonald. She was overweight and struggling with health issues. With the help of her daughter, a fitness coach, she now deadlifts 175 pounds for her 2 million Instagram followers and sports a bodybuilder’s physique, along with crop tops. She’s proof it’s never too late for a glow-up.
Offering up wisdom
Navy vet Kenny Jary, or “patriotickenny,” tells stories and tries out new tech with his 2.7 million followers. The 82-year-old has a chronic lung condition and gets around with a mobility scooter.
When Kenny’s last scooter broke down, his followers raised money for a new one. He’s since paid it forward and helped 119 other vets with their mobility needs. How awesome is that?
Be yourself
TikTok: If you don't have It, you can't get it
TikTok got a 75-day extension thanks to President Trump’s Executive Order, but new downloads are banned in the U.S. Some are so desperate they’re buying phones with TikTok pre-installed on eBay for thousands.
The clock is TikTokking: President Trump is cooking up a plan to buy TikTok. The U.S. sovereign wealth fund would involve private equity players and taxpayer money. Communist China’s government refuses to include the algorithm with the sale, which is what makes TikTok so valuable. But U.S. tech titans say they can come up with their own.
216% more people
Learning Chinese on Duolingo compared to this time last year. With the TikTok ban looming and so many people running over to another Chinese app, RedNote, they likely need a crash course. RedNote is in Mandarin by default. Duolingo downloads are up 36%, too.
It’s a TikTok account with 2.9 million followers that ranks sticks found in nature, from wizard staffs to twisted pieces of wood. It started as an inside joke between two buddies, Boone Hogg and Logan Jugler. They made a TikTok account, and, 12.5 million likes later, even celebs like Lin-Manuel Miranda are in on it.
😅 I can’t believe I’m typing this: Women on TikTok are pouring castor oil into their belly buttons every night to help with digestion and bloating. Castor oil does have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, so maybe they’re onto something. No crude jokes, OK?
Don't become another victim of the California wildfires
California wildfires hit hard, but some celebs are exploiting fans on TikTok and GoFundMe. Here’s what you need to know.
Cheaters don’t want you to know this iPhone trick
Think someone’s two-timing you? They could be using this sneaky iPhone app to cover their tracks. We’ll also talk about China’s control over TikTok, IRS changes for online sellers, and Trump’s new memecoin.
🚫 This went tits-up: People who moved from TikTok to RedNote are thoroughly confused by censorship issues. One man asked why he couldn’t post photos of his abs, only to be told his nipples are sexually suggestive. ICYMI: RedNote is owned by China. If you downloaded the app, remove it.
President Donald Trump and TikTok
TikTok is not going away. Let’s make understanding what’s going to happen simple.
She’s teaching engineering lessons on Pornhub
A PhD student quit her degree to focus on content creation and she’s making a heck of a lot of money doing it. Plus, MrBeast’s smash-hit game show with a $15 million set, why TikTok can’t shut down and tech life hacks you’ll thank us for later.
TikTok ban: A lot can happen in 3 days
TikTok is a tool of Red China and poses a threat to U.S. national security. If nothing changes before Jan. 19, it’s getting shut down in America.
The TikTok ban and your videos
If Communist China-owned TikTok is banned on the 19th, that doesn’t mean it’s game over for you.
☕ Me espresso: Carol Chapman, aka “Grandma C,” is an 81-year-old TikTok coffee reviewer. She hit 1.1 million views trying pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso at Dunkin. Even Sabrina responded with, “i love you grandma C 💋.” In a follow-up video, Grandma C was bopping to Sabrina’s music for the first time. Love her.
Red Note is No. 1 in the App Store: It’s kind of like Instagram but with a Pinterest-style layout and 300 million monthly active members. Why is it suddenly so popular? TikTok creators who are worried their audiences will evaporate with the possible ban don’t realize this app is also Communist China-owned, too. D’oh.
🦈 Sink or swim: “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary and former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt are trying to buy Communist China-owned TikTok before the possible ban on Jan. 19. O’Leary says the big goal is protecting 170 million American users from Chinese surveillance. They’ll need at least $100 billion to get this done.
January 4th, 2025
Spies target the U.S., and the NSA warns: Shut down your phone. AI Hitler speeches go viral on TikTok, ChatGPT isn’t your secret keeper, and friendship apps are booming as more people look for new connections.
Can AI save Facebook? Meta hopes so. They’re rolling out AI avatars (paywall link) to pull in younger people. Robo-influencers are all the rage. Snapchat and TikTok are jumping on the bandwagon, too. It sounds strange, but I’ve read some of these AI-based virtual influencers make $10,000 per post. Maybe I’m in the wrong business.
Kim Komando's 2025 tech predictions: part 1
Will TikTok face a ban? How will AI reshape our lives? Here’s my take on what’s coming this year.