Documents of the contract of sale: What do I need?

Here we have summarized step by step the structure of a sales contract for a condominium.

Part 1: Master data buyer and seller

First of all, the master data of the buyer and the seller, which should be listed first on every contract. Here should be noted in any case the full name, address and date of birth of both sides.

• Master data buyer and seller

Part 2: Master data of the property

The apartment being purchased should also be described in detail in the purchase agreement. The data of the apartment, such as address and number of the housing unit, also includes the land register sheet number or the extract from the land register.

• Master data of the property
• Land register excerpt

Part 3: Purchase price of the property

Next, the purchase price of your apartment including all additional costs must be listed, as well as the day by which the payment must be received at the latest, i.e. the payment deadline.

• Purchase price and payment term

Part 4: Tenant data

If you are buying your apartment as an investment, you should add the leases of the future tenants both to the documentation for the bank and as the next page of the lease.

What else is listed:

• Tenant data / Tenant list (as attachment)
• Current status of tenancies
• Deposits paid by tenants
• Confirmation: No rent arrears

Part 5: Promises of the seller

It is important for you as a buyer to have listed in the lease agreement all previously verbally agreed commitments of the seller. This includes, for example, renovation work in the apartment or similar.

Should be listed:

• Representations of the seller

Part 6: Billing and costs

You have finally decided to rent out your apartment. To do this, you also need the tenant’s statements of account and the cost claims of the residents’ contributions.

Accounting

If the economic transfer takes place before the middle of the year, the settlement must be taken over by the seller. If it takes place after the middle of the year, you as the buyer must take care of the settlement.

• Before mid-year: Seller
• After mid-year: Buyer

Costs

The costs of the adjoining owners must also be taken into account and listed. Separation is made from the moment of transfer of the apartment. Costs incurred before the transfer are borne by the seller. All costs thereafter must be borne by the buyer.

• Separation from the date of transition
• Before transition: Seller
• After transition: Buyer

What else is there to do?

If you are already a little deeper into the subject, you should definitely know that you should separate items of an apartment. Separate things such as outdoor facilities, garages, fitted kitchens, but also furniture taken over, which reduces land transfer tax. In addition, an assignment of claims against craftsmen should be made. If you have already received the documents from your bank before the notary appointment, you should also have the land charge documents ready.

What else should be in the lease?

• Separate items
• Assignment of claims against craftsmen
• Land charge documents

The first step: types of real estate

The first own property, but in which type of real estate should I invest best? This question is often asked by young investors and this is exactly where we have the answers for you! Whether it’s a house, apartment building, condominium, special real estate or commercial real estate, we have put together a comparison of all types of real estate. With this guide, you’ll find the easiest entry into the real estate world. Besides the profitable sides, the real estate industry also holds some risks for you. In order to keep these as low as possible, we have put together a guide to buying your first property!

Portfolio of your financing: folder for the bank

Banks receive financing requests for real estate on a daily basis. To ensure that your request goes through as quickly and smoothly as possible, you should make sure that your documents are in order. For this purpose, we recommend two folders that you can hand over to the bank.

Folder for the Bak:

1. Folder: Credit rating
2. Folder: Object

Object folder: summary of the data

We have listed everything you need for your object folder so that you are guaranteed not to forget anything.

General data: Exposé and photos of your object

First of all, there should be a synopsis or a fact sheet in your folder, on which all basic data of the object are noted. In addition, the bank should get a visual impression of your building or your apartment, whereby the submission of photos is very important.

What you need first:

• Real Estate Exposé/ Fact Sheet
• Photos of the apartment / building

More specifics: Parcel map, floor plans & insurance

In addition to the general facts about your dream property, you should have the site plan, the floor plan and the cadastral map ready. On the cadastral map you will find official key figures, which are defined in a limited accessible register (real estate cadastre). Furthermore, you need an excerpt from the land register , which determines the respective ownership and living conditions. Other important documents are the building insurance and the energy certificate. If you buy your property as an investment, you should include the lease agreement.

Other documents you will need are:

• Parcel map and site plan
• Floor plans
• Living space calculation
• Land register excerpt
• Building insurance
• Energy certificate
• Rental agreement

Condominium case: details of the entire property

When you buy a condominium, you are automatically part of a community of owners and therefore have to attach other plans to the entire property. This includes the declaration of division, which contains the agreements between all owners, as well as other plans of the building. In addition, the minutes of the last owners’ meetings are an important part.

Documents in the case of a condominium:

• Declaration of division – with certificate of seclusion
• Collection of resolutions – last 3 owners’ meetings
• WEG manager contract
• House service charge statement
• Property tax notice

Last document: The draft purchase agreement

Last but not least, the bank will be happy if you already have a draft of your purchase contract. If this exists, you add it as the last document in your real estate portfolio.

• Draft of the contract of sale

The next step: contract of sale of your apartment

Your dream property has been found! After a detailed assessment of the location, a commercial check and a technical check, you can now draw up the draft purchase contract for the notary appointment and to complete your bank documents. But what does such a purchase contract actually consist of? You can learn everything you need to know to draw up the purchase contract for your first own apartment here.

Back to overview: Fashion Week XXL

Shanghai Fashion Week

Despite the aim of the Shanghai Fashion Week to draw attention to local and regional designers and to promote them, Shanghai also invites international designers every year who target the Chinese market. Fashion in China and what fashion means for China is the motto here. Since 2003, Shanghai has been promoting Chinese designers to conquer the Western market with their creations of fancy street wear and couture.

Map and city at a glance: Shanghai

Here you get a small overview of the largest city in China.

The Fashion Week takes place in the centre of Shanghai, in Xintiandi.

Shanghai Fashion Week: Dates

Twice a year, Shanghai hosts Fashion Week, which lasts for seven days.

Shanghai Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2021

1. Fashion Week Shanghai: 06.04. – 13.04.2021

Shanghai Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2022

1. Fashion Week Shanghai: 08.10.2022

Fashion Week worldwide: All dates

Do you already know? Fashion Week New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, London & Berlin? Designers, shows and fairs, read more about the individual Fashion Weeks worldwide here:

• Fashion Week XXL

Back to overview: Fashion Week XXL

Seoul Fashion Week

Cute prints paired with rough Tec Wear – designers like Minju Kim show their skills at Seoul Fashion Week. Until 2020, models walked the runway at Dongdaemun Design Plaza. That changed due to the pandemic, as more space was needed. In 2021, the fashion show moved to the National Museums of Korea and turned it into a catwalk. This was to appeal to a global audience to see the fashion world revive after the pandemic.

Map and city at a glance: Seoul

Here you get a quick overview of the capital of South Korea!

This Street View shows you the venue, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Seoul Fashion Week 2021

Here we have compiled all the dates and events of the Seoul Fashion Week.

Seoul Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2020

1. Fashion Week Seoul: Fancy

Seoul Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2021

1. Fashion Week Seoul: 20.10. – 25.20.2020

Seoul Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

1. Fashion Week Seoul: 22.03. – 27.03.2021

Seoul Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2022

1. Fashion Week Seoul: 07.10. – 15.10.2021

Fashion Week worldwide: All dates

Do you already know? Fashion Week New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, London & Berlin? Designers, shows and fairs, read more about the individual Fashion Weeks worldwide here:

• Fashion Week XXL

Back to overview: Fashion Week XXL

Berlin Fashion Week

Fashion Week 2007 has also seen the light of day in Germany. In addition to the well-known big labels and shows, the Berlin Fashion Week is committed to making young designers and talents known. With the “Neo Fashion Week” in Berlin, which takes place every year a little earlier than the “real” Fashion Week, the organizers give students from fashion schools all over Germany the opportunity to present themselves.

In addition to the regular shows, there are further trade fairs and workshops every year, where fashion enthusiasts from all over the world can exchange ideas. While these still took place at the Brandenburg Gate in 2016, the Fashion Week has been moved to the “Kraftwerk” in Berlin Mitte for the last few years.

Map and city at a glance: Berlin

Here is an overview of the city of Berlin. Marked is the venue “das Kraftwerk”.

Here you get an insight into the venue the “Kraftwerk” in Berlin Mitte. The Fashion Week is in its starting blocks!

Berlin Fashion Week: Dates & Times

To make sure you never miss a show, we’ve rounded up the dates for Fashion Weeks 2021 and 2022!

Berlin Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2021

1. Fashion Week Berlin: fancy
2. MBFW Fashion Week Berlin (Runway): fancy
3. Fashion Week Berlin FAIRS: fancy
4. AYFW About You Fashion Week Berlin: 05.07. – 07.07.2020

Berlin Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021/ 2022

1. Fashion Week Berlin: 18.01. – 24.01.2021
2. MBFW Fashion Week Berlin: 18.01. – 20.01.2021
3. MBFW Fashion Week Berlin FAIRS 18.01. – 24.01.2021

1. MBFW Fashion Week Berlin (Runway): 06.09.-12.09.2021
2. Fashion Week Frankfurt FAIRS: 05.07.-09.07.2021 (online conference only)

Berlin Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2022/2023

1. MBFW Fashion Week Frankfurt FAIRS: 17.01. – 21.01.2022

Fashion Week worldwide: All dates

Do you already know? Fashion Week New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, London & Seoul? Designers, shows and fairs, read more about the individual Fashion Weeks worldwide here:

• Fashion Week XXL

Back to overview: Fashion Week XXL

Los Angeles Fashion Week

Luxury shopping in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Superstars- Los Angeles is an absolute fashion city and the stars and most important fashion influencers who live here set trends with their street style looks. Los Angeles is also known for its great shopping, especially the luxury boutiques in Beverly Hills are an absolute highlight for shopping fans. Twice a year a Fashion Week takes place in LA, where men’s and women’s collections are presented. The Fashion Week in Los Angeles focuses mainly on young and emerging labels and designers such as Greg Lauren, Fabiana Milazzo and Luooif Studio, but also large and well-known labels such as Superdry are represented.

Map and city overview: Los Angeles

Located in Downtown Los Angeles, the 30,000 square foot Majestic Downtown is a historic building with a long and impressive history. It hosts events throughout the year such as weddings, galas, superstar events and also Fashion Week twice a year. The interior design is very special: with 9 meter high Italian ceilings, arched windows, sculpted marble columns and original marble floors, the Majestic Downtown looks picturesquely beautiful from the inside and provides the perfect setting for an important big event like Fashion Week.

The Majestic Downtown – where Los Angeles Fashion Week takes place:

Street View: An insight into the Fashion District

Los Angeles Fashion Week: Dates at a glance

The biannual Fashion Week is the most important week in the fashion world and the eyes of the whole world are on the designers and labels that present their latest collections on the runway. We have summarized the dates of this year’s Fashion Week in LA for you here:

Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2021/2022

1. Autumn / Winter 2021/22 Fashion Week from 26 – 29 March 2021

Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2022

1. Spring / Summer 2022 from 7 – 10 October 2021

Fashion Week worldwide: All dates

You love fashion and want to stay up to date, then you can find articles about the other Fashion Weeks in New York, Shanghai, Paris, Milan, London & Berlin here. Designers, shows and fairs, read more about the individual Fashion Weeks worldwide here:

• Fashion Week XXL

You always want to be informed about the current shows of famous British designers like Vivienne Westwood or Alexander McQueen? Don’t want to miss any more shows and dates? Then this is the right article for you!

Back to overview: Fashion Week XXL

London Fashion Week

Punk fashion, Doc Martens and high fashion, a mix that distinguishes London. In 1984, the first models were sent down the catwalk of London Fashion Week to present the latest trends and looks. Since then, everything that has rank and name is represented in the Front Row, following an invitation to the Fashion Week. But there is also the possibility for the public to experience the spirit of fashion. Directly following Fashion Week, London hosts the “London Fashion Weekend”, which is a retail event open to all.

Map and city at a glance: London

Here you get a first overview of the capital of Great Britain.

Here you see Somerset House in London, which served as the Fashion Week venue for years.

London Fashion Week 2021

Twice a year, in February and September, the spring/summer and autumn/winter collections are presented at London Fashion Week. The fashion week for men takes place separately in June.

London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2021

1. Fashion Week London: 18.09. – 22.09.2020
2. Fashion Week London men: 13.06. – 15.06.2020

London Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2021/ 2022

1. Fashion Week London: 19.02. – 23.02.2021

London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2022

1. Fashion Week London: 17.09. – 21.09.2021
2. Fashion Week London men: 12.06. – 14.06.2021

Fashion Week worldwide: All dates

Do you already know? Fashion Week New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, London & Berlin? Designers, shows and fairs, read more about the individual Fashion Weeks worldwide here:

• Fashion Week XXL

Milan – one of the most beautiful cities in Italy – is also one of the Big Four fashion capitals, right next to Paris, New York and London. Fashion is your thing and you always want to be up to date? Then you’ve come to the right place, because in this article you’ll find all the dates and everything you need to know about Milan Fashion Week!

Back to overview: Fashion Week XXL

Milan Fashion Week

In January and June of each calendar year, the new men’s collections are proudly presented at “Milano Moda Uomo”. The ladies at “Milano Moda Donna” have to be a little patient at the beginning of the year, it is not their turn to present the latest fashion until February and September. All the world’s major fashion brands are represented here, from Dolce & Gabbana to Versace and Prada. In addition to the elaborate catwalk presentations, some collections are also presented in showrooms.

Map and city at a glance: Milan

The more than 40 shows of Milan Fashion Week take place at various locations around the city, such as the Palazzo Reale or the Palazzo Serbelloni. Each brand chooses the location where the show will take place. Here you can find a map of Milan, which gives you a first overview of the city.

Location: The city as catwalk

Each show takes place at a different location throughout the city. Here you will find a glimpse of the Palazzo serbelloni, a neoclassical palace that has served as the location for numerous shows.

Milan Fashion Week: Dates

At the Fashion Week in Milan every year the women’s and men’s collections are shown separately. Here you can find the dates for the Spring/ Summer and Autumn/ Winter collections.

Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2021

1. Woman: Spring/ Summer 2021: 22.09. – 28.09.2020
2. Men: Spring/ Summer 2021: 20.06. – 23.06.2020

Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2020/21

1. Woman: Autumn/ Winter 2020: /

Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021/2022

1. Women: Autumn/ Winter 2022: 23 – 28 February 2021
2. Men: Autumn/ Winter 2022: 15 – 19 January 2021

Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2022

1. Women: Spring/ Summer 2022: 21.09. – 27.09.2021

Fashion Week worldwide: All dates

Do you already know? Fashion Week New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Tokyo, London & Berlin? Designers, shows and fairs, read more about the individual Fashion Weeks worldwide here:

• Fashion Week XXL

Everything from fashion icons like Anna Wintour to rapper Kanye West, who sits on the front row with his wife Kim Kardashian, is there. Love fashion and want to know when the next Fashion Weeks are and what the most concise shows are? Here’s our fashion show guide to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Fashion Weeks worldwide: from New York to Seoul

Fashion Weeks now take place on almost every continent. Big brands like Gucci, Prada, Dior and Balenciaga show their new collections up to four times a year. In addition to the “big four” in New York, London, Milan and Paris, local designers can now also present their collections at the smaller fashion shows in Miami or Tel Aviv. Fashion week worldwide – In Germany, too, the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Berlin invites you every year again.

Did you know? The idea for Fashion Week originally came from Paris, the first show was launched in New York in 1943 – at that time simply called “Press Week”.

Fashion Week Paris

Since haute couture originated in Paris, the city is still considered one of the most important fashion centers in the world. The absolute cult brand Chanel was also founded in the French capital by Coco Chanel. At Paris Fashion Week, the world’s most famous and legendary labels such as Prada, Chloé and Burberry present their new collections.

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers
  • Spring/ Summer 2022

Fashion Week New York

Four times a year the Fashion Week is held in New York. All the well-known American labels such as Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karen are represented here. Calvin Klein and Thom Borwne show only the women’s collection in New York, the men’s collection is presented in Milan. But also non-American designers like Hugo Boss and Helmut Lang are represented here. In this article you will find all news and dates about the New York Fashion Week!

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion Week Milan

Four times a year, models like Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber walk the runway in Milan. Four times a year the city attracts the rich and beautiful. One of the biggest fashion fairs in the world is also not to be missed! Milan – one of the most beautiful cities in Italy – is also one of the Big Four fashion capitals, right next to Paris, New York and London. Fashion is your thing and you always want to be up to date? Then you’ve come to the right place, because in this article you’ll find all the dates and everything you need to know about Milan Fashion Week!

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion Week London

Twice a year – in February and September – London Fashion Week invites visitors to see the latest trends and most beautiful creations on the catwalk. Since Fashion Week in England’s capital is one of the “Big Four” cities in the fashion world, it is reserved exclusively for guests from the fashion industry. You always want to be informed about the latest shows of famous British designers like Vivienne Westwood or Alexander McQueen? Don’t want to miss any more shows and dates? Then this is the right article for you!

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion Week Shanghai

Since 2001, Shanghai Fashion Week has opened its doors annually to visitors, spectators and fashion enthusiasts from all over the world. The Fashion Week in Shanghai is part of the large Shanghai International Fashion Culture Festival, which stands for the promotion of creative forces and strengthening of their own brands. In the Asian region, but also worldwide, Shanghai Fashion Week is one of the most important fashion events, along with Tokyo and Seoul, to present the latest trends, looks and up-and-coming, as well as long-established fashion brands. Read all about Fashion Week in China’s biggest city here!

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion Week Tokyo

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion Week Seoul

Organized by the Seoul Design Foundation, Seoul Fashion Week is held for an international audience every two years in March and October. Although it is currently still rather insignificant for the rest of the fashion world, the organizers are pursuing the goal of becoming the most influential fashion week in the world after Paris, Milan, London and New York. With its “Next Generation” program, the event is also well on its way, as Seoul Fashion Week has made a name for itself by supporting and promoting young and upcoming designers. In this article you will find all the information about the dates and an overview of the shows of Seoul Fashion Week!

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion Week Los Angeles

Luxury shopping in Beverly Hills, Hollywood and Superstars- Los Angeles is an absolute fashion city and the stars and most important fashion influencers who live here set trends with their street style looks. Los Angeles is also known for its great shopping, especially the luxury boutiques in Beverly Hills are an absolute highlight for shopping fans. Twice a year a Fashion Week takes place in LA, where men’s and women’s collections are presented. The Fashion Week in Los Angeles focuses mainly on young and emerging labels and designers such as Greg Lauren, Fabiana Milazzo and Luooif Studio, but also large and well-known labels such as Superdry are represented.

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion Week Berlin

Berlin Fashion Week – Berlin Fashion Week is the biggest fashion event in the whole of Germany. Twice a year the German capital invites an international audience to see the latest trends of famous German designers or fashion brands like Wolfgang Joop or Hugo Boss. The Berlin catwalk attracts you and you don’t want to miss any dates or shows? Here you will find everything you need to know about Fashion Week in Berlin!

• Dates and data
• Shows and designers

Fashion world XXL: Fashion brands, beauty and co.

You want to know the stories behind the designers and labels that are represented at Fashion Week, want to learn about the background of the designers and what the individual labels are known for? Want to know what beauty tips and tricks the models use backstage at the shows? Here you will find our XXL guides on fashion brands, designer themes and beauty, which will bring you closer to the world of fashion.

Fashion brands XXL

The popular Burberry trench coat. The famous little black dress. The classic Chanel suit or the wicked slip dress by Calvin Klein. Who does not know them? With their extravagant designs and innovative fabrics, the great fashion brands of the world make the hearts of many a fashion lover beat faster with every collection. You want to know who belongs to the biggest fashion labels in the world? Then you are exactly right here. We at FIV Magazine have listed the top fashion brands in the world – so you too can become the ultimate fashion expert.

• Fashion brands XXL

High Fashion XXL

In 1857/8, the founder of haute couture Charles Frederick Worth opened the first fashion house. The English couturier was born in Bourne, Lincolnshire in 1825 and was first seen as an artist rather than a craftsman. The Englishman only wanted to sell his best pieces to the country’s top brass, as his influence on fashion as a whole was huge. Since then, Worth has had a huge influence on fashion designers after him. However, fashion goes through a constant change and changes accordingly.

• High Fashion XXL

At a glance: History of TikTok

For those of you who heard about TikTok for the first time today: TikTok is an app that has been around since 2014. Until 2018, the app was still called Musical.ly, so maybe you’ve heard of it. Now, billions of people use the app. The goal of the app is to build a community of followers by producing short videos, similar to any other social media app. There are dedicated features in the app for producing these videos. TikTok regulates who sees the videos, when and where, via an impressive algorithm, and that influence now goes so far as to trigger entire trends. You can find a collection of TikTok trends here.

Find the app in your app store and the online version here:

• TikTok Playstore
• TikTok iTunes Store
• TikTok online

Presumably, TikTok is one of the most valuable startups in the world. Reuters announced that the Chinese app’s 2020 revenue is estimated at $1 billion. This is the purchase price for which the parent company Bytedance once acquired one of the apps from which TikTok started.

Start Musical.ly: videos & likes

Initially, the short video app was known as Musical.ly. Musical.ly was actually intended as an app for educational and explainer videos, but co-founder Alex Zhu declared it a bust even before it was released. According to him, this would never have become successful. So the idea was reworked and developed into a social app with the function to create your own videos, share them and also rate them via a like system.

A registered user can submit one Like per video and thus helps videos to achieve more reach. More likes also promise more success with other users, which is why these videos are displayed preferentially. Likes are the absolute currency on TikTok. What makes the app smart: They count all views together and thus even small users immediately receive thousands, tens of thousands of views. This, of course, makes you feel accepted and “successful” quickly.

• Actual reason for TikTok: Learning videos
• Likes are TikTok’s currency and very important

Recipe for success: interactive singing

Another part of Musical.ly’s success these days is that they incorporated their logo into their videos early on so that it couldn’t be cut off on other platforms, like Instagram. So if you share your video on Instagram, all your followers there can see the brand name of, back then, Musical.ly. Maybe some are interested and download the app as well. So this mechanism caused the brand name to spread far and wide, and an explosion of downloads.

Shortly thereafter, the app became number one in the iTunes App Store. The app’s popularity was met with updates to the social network’s interaction section. Comment and Q&A functions for asking questions were introduced and Duet functions for comments and videos from other creators were expanded.

Duets describe in the sense of the simplified process of re-cutting the video and also insert your own clips without having to download the original video. The creator is even linked and it can help build your community. For more help building your community, you can check out an example of a TikTok marketing agency here.

• Success: Logos visible in the videos
• Musical.ly becomes number one in the app store
• New features: Q&A, comments and duets
• Interactions build your community

The clincher: music industry convinced

The platform became better known through Lipsync videos, in which the lips are moved in sync with the lyrics of the music. In addition, the various effects and filters for video editing also enjoy great popularity. With the focus on music, the viral TikTok dances also became popular.

For this, the company has made several deals with bigger labels in the music industry, especially in America. Especially with the growing awareness of the app, very famous musicians also started using Musical.ly and the ease of use of the app for their campaigns. The good thing about these deals is that any person can use the songs provided without having to worry about copyrights.

Therefore, music tracks, should they be popular at the moment, are used for countless videos and can end up on users’ feeds multiple times. The high trend potential and the recognition character when constantly listening to certain songs leads to the whole breakthrough for some musicians until today.

• Lipsyncing: imitating the lyrics with the lips brought the success
• Thousands of songs and you can use them easily
• Absolute Trend Songs

From Musical.ly to Douyin

In November 2017, Musical.ly was sold to Chinese tech company Bytedance. Less than a year later, Bytedance merged Musical.ly with their in-house app TikTok. TikTok had also been successful under the name Douyin mostly in China until then and they saw Musical.ly’s international and especially US success as an opportunity to be placed in the market there. Under the name TikTok, all accounts of Musical.ly were then transferred. Since 2019 at the latest, numerous influencers have jumped on the hype and the app can look forward to strongly growing success.

• Release Musical.ly: 2014
• Musical.ly name change to TikTok: 2018

If you’re interested in the most talked about TikToks lately, you can check out this video.

TikTok: How the app works

Besides the creative aspect of creating and uploading videos with rather little effort, social interactions also play a role. Social group and role models can now also be formed especially on TikTok.

Challenges: everyone can participate

The basic principle of TikTok is very simple. Record videos, viral music, which is even suggested directly, put over it and upload. Maybe a few relevant tags and a trendy idea paired with some humor and the algorithm spits it out on the For You pages of other users. The For You page works much like the Explore section on Instagram. In addition to the accounts you follow, you’ll also see content there that the algorithm picks out for you.

Strong competitive pressure

Since TikTok is so popular, competitors have also looked to similar principles and features. Instagram and YouTube added their Reel feature, which works very similar to TikTok. There, short videos play on a page on the Instagram app and scrolling takes you to the next video. Often, content from TikTok also ends up in these same reels via its own download function and the visibly placed logo ensures more reach for the app, just like Musical.ly.

Success as a Community: Challenges

The feeling of being able to participate in the success of the app is perceived as very nice. One way that is decisive for new trends are the TikTok Challenges. There we show a dance or an activity to a piece of music. These often have a great chance the topic on the app, because if many people participate, the topic polarizes, but also videos linked to just viral topics often tell a higher range. In addition, many challenges are also just super fun!

Advertising: new opportunities

Besides the ads in the content creator’s videos, there are few ads. Unlike YouTube, there are no skippable commercials before each video. At most, you’ll see a short ad when you open the app.

For advertisers, the options are currently being expanded and revised. Therefore, a company presence on TikTok is slowly but surely useful to reach the growing target group. Since one could then also profit with first from the planned features.

Stars: Will Smith, Jason Derulo & Co.

These stars have discovered TikTok for themselves. Actor Will Smith now has over 58.5 million followers. But other stars like rapper Jason Derulo, actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, actress Jojo Siwa and model Kylie Jenner also share content on the video platform.

Usage figures: Rapid growth

Today, the app’s estimated value is $50 billion. The 689 monthly users internationally and 100 million in the USA contribute to this. In Europe, there are currently also 100 million, including almost 11 million in Germany with a 79.7 percent growth rate.

Number of downloads from TikTok

The record time for TikTok downloads worldwide was in the early 2020s, but since then the app has held steady above 6.5 million downloads every day.

You can find more statistics at Statista

In Germany, most of the downloads were already in mid-2018 to early 2019, but even here the app is holding its own valiantly above 250 thousand downloads per month.

Many users: Teens and Kids

In the USA, most users are between 10-19 years old with 32.5%. It was announced by the US media company Bloomberg that 24% of users in Germany are not of age. In terms of overall usage, business blog Future Biz states that 69% of users are between 16 and 24 years old. It is therefore clear that most users are young people. The so-called Generation Z, who are so far only conditionally firmly in life.

Advertising measures are therefore only set individually on pocket money amounts, but a target group also for more comprehensive advertising measures will come. The current users are also getting older. A good example of this is Instagram, whose target group is now somewhat older and is therefore also suitable for far-reaching advertising measures, as Instagram users have more financial power.

With this outlook, however, it’s also not a bad idea to build an advertising platform on TikTok now so that you can use it in the future. Especially since the advertising features on the app are now also constantly optimized.

Biggest Channels: Here are the users

Some people have also already generated an impressive reach with TikTok. The American dancer Charlie D’Amelio currently has the most followers. This is followed by the Italian TikToker Khabane Lame.

You can find more statistics at Statista.

We introduce you to the biggest international TikTokers here.

The app is now also very popular in Germany. The video artist Younes Zarou has the most followers. If you are also interested in the trends and TikTok stars in Germany, you can find them here.

Falco Punch, another German TikToker, is working hard to catch up with him. To get to know the likeable young man better, you can read this interview.

Data collection and algorithm

algorithm specifically displays videos, based on the selection of personal data, and thereby creates a bubble. In this bubble it is possible to communicate with other users with similar interests. Many people find this attractive, as you are always shown what you want.

Concept: AI gets to know you

Bytedance, the owner company, is considered one of the leading companies in the field of artificial intelligence – or AI for short – thanks to its groundbreaking algorithm. An AI machine reads data and can evaluate and link it on its own. TikTok’s algorithm includes one such AI, which ensures that based on what you watch and like, similar videos end up back on your ForYou page. This way, you’ll get endless content that’s exactly what you want.

The data that feeds the algorithm is approximate location, device type, like behavior, when something is shared, any comments, and time spent on a video. This is then associated with your TikTok account and analyzed with that connection. An interest profile is created. This allows the algorithm to always adapt to its user. There is also speculation that TikTok also collects data from accounts with linked email adresses or other apps on the same device.

Censorship on TikTok and Shadowbans

Concern, there is with just that very personal profiling that censorship takes place for people of certain political views and characteristics. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, this happens from TikTok to protect some populations from online bullying. However, some users feel their opinions are suppressed and their existence is discriminated against. On the platform itself there is an increased complaint about so-called “shadowbanning”, the videos are spread less by the algorithm than others with the same or similar content.

Trump almost banned TikTok

In addition, the company Bytedance is said to have agreed to cooperate with the Chinese government. It is not entirely clear how much insight the strict ruling party CCP has into the users’ data. Some fear that China could establish a surveillance state that makes George Orwell’s fictional “Big Brother” look poor.

AI technologies could be used to identify and silence certain groups of people and political opinions. Many Western countries, and especially the US, are concerned about the security of the data. In the US, the app was even threatened with a ban in 2020 due to these fears. However, an official statement from the company to Tagesschau says that they are not influenced by any government.