Meta has barred ByteDance and third-party advertisers from placing ads linking to TikTok and other ByteDance services on its platforms in seven countries.
The restriction applies in the United States, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. A Meta spokesperson told Reuters the company was not obliged to run ads for a competitor seeking to draw users away from its apps. TikTok and ByteDance did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The ban also covers third-party advertisers whose campaigns in those countries link to TikTok or other ByteDance properties. Users can still add links to other social networks’ websites to their profiles, while TikTok does not support links that automatically open or log users into competing social apps.
Reuters described the move as part of a long-running contest for users, creators and advertising revenue. Meta has also urged TikTok and YouTube to adopt teen-safety measures. In August, Meta agreed to daily limits and nighttime restrictions for children using Facebook and Instagram as part of a settlement with US states worth up to $18 billion. TikTok reached a separate settlement with Alabama in September requiring usage limits and stronger age checks.