In a Twitter post, TikTok COO V. Pappas announced their resignation from the popular social media app.
The news was first reported by The Information(opens in a new tab) which had access to a note Pappas sent to TikTok employees on Thursday. Pappas' tweet(opens in a new tab) confirmed the scoop, sharing the full note. "Given all the success reached at TikTok, I finally feel the time is right to move and refocus on my entrepreneurial passions," they wrote.
Tweet may have been deleted (opens in a new tab)
Pappas was at the company for five years, a time which saw TikTok become the fastest-growing and one of the most popular social media apps. "My north star throughout it all was to uphold what I refer to as 'the last sunny spot on the internet,' to build a platform for positive expression that celebrates diverse voices," Pappas said.
Amidst controversies, Pappas was often the public spokesperson for the company that's owned by ByteDance, which has ties to the Chinese government. TikTok has faced global scrutiny over concerns of privacy and user data, and is considered a national security threat by several countries. Governments in the U.S, Canada, the United Kingdom have banned staff from using TikTok. The state of Montana has flat out banned the use of TikTok starting in 2024. TikTok is currently challenging the ban(opens in a new tab) in court.
In their announcement, Pappas said TikTok has "pushed the social media industry toward more accountability and transparency," citing TikTok's Content Advisory Council and Transparency Centers. They also explained that they would continue to support TikTok leadership by taking on an advisory role for the company.
