TikTok admits to a manual button that makes videos (and people) go viral.

If you've ever wondered how some videos make it onto your TikTok For You Page, worry no more because it's been confirmed there's more to it than just a sophisticated algorithm.

Jamie Favazza, a spokesperson for TikTok, explained some of the app's US employees are able to boost videos in order to "introduce celebrities and emerging creators to the TikTok community."

What does it mean?

In short, some users are able to sidestep the algorithm that is specifically curated for each user and was made to supposedly enhance the TikTok experience. 

The feature is referred to as TikTok's "Heating" button, which Forbes reported is used not just to increase views for particular videos, but also to "promote some videos to help diversify the content experience."

The TikTok feed is more complicated than we were originally led to believe. Image: Getty.

Favazza said TikTok doesn’t "heat" videos often, claiming they're only about ".002 per cent of videos in [our] For You feeds" are heated. 

According to a document obtained by Forbes though, heated videos actually make up allegedly "around 1-2 per cent" of "total daily video views."

What's the issue? 

TikTok’s heating can make creators and brands feel like they’re winning at the platform - but it is not guaranteed success. There are winners and losers as other influencers and businesses may lose a spot on someone’s For You page to someone whose videos are being heated up.

According to Forbes, there have been situations where employees have heated content that shouldn't have promoted video from friends, partners and their own accounts. 

Videos manually pushed out on TikTok also don't come with a label to show they've been heated - unlike advertisements or sponsored posts. 

However, TikTok is not the only social media platform to provide the same feature heating does. Facebook allegedly inflates view counts so advertisers and media companies are more enticed to spend money with the platform. 

YouTube is also reportedly giving creators a cut of the ad revenue made off of YouTube Shorts. Instagram pushes out Reels to their users and offers money to creators in return. 

Feature Image: Getty.

Police investigating the disappearance of a Queensland mother, have found a woman's body, believed to be the missing 61-year-old, in a car in a Brisbane garage.

Wendy Sleeman went missing after she called police from her Gold Coast home to report a break-in on Tuesday afternoon.

"She came home from work, and the house had been given some forced entry, and she noticed some damage," Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith told reporters on Wednesday.

By the time police arrived 30 minutes later, Sleeman was missing. 

Last night, Superintendent Smith told reporters a woman's body was found in a blue Honda Jazz police, which police had been searching for, in a garage at a unit block in Windsor, in Brisbane's inner north.

"Tragically, the body of a woman we believe to be Wendy was found inside the vehicle," he said.

"This is a devastating outcome for her loved ones and our thoughts remain with them."

Police have discovered the body of 61-year-old mother Wendy Sleeman in the boot of a car in Brisbane overnight. #9Today | WATCH LIVE 5.30am pic.twitter.com/AVo1Rvwv43

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) January 26, 2023

Sleeman's 30-year-old son has been arrested and charged with a number of offences including domestic violence-related counts of kidnapping, assault, stalking and attempted arson.

He appeared in court yesterday and was refused bail. The case against him was adjourned for mention on February 14.

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic's father has been seen posing with supporters holding a banned Russian flag, in support of of Russian president Vladimir Putin outside Melbourne Park.

In a video shared on YouTube yesterday, Srdjan Djokovic was filmed standing alongside pro-Russian spectators, before briefly speaking to the camera in Serbian. 

It comes after Tennis Australia banned spectators from carrying and displaying Russian and Belarusian banners in Melbourne Park on the second day of the tournament.

"A small group of people displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards following a match on Wednesday night and were evicted," a Tennis Australia statement read.

"One patron is now assisting police with unrelated matters."

Novak Djokovic is no stranger to controversy, but tonight it's his father who's in the headlines, caught at the Australian Open with fans waving banned Russian flags in support of President Putin. @Eliza_Rugg9 #9News pic.twitter.com/iys4zIO44N

— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) January 26, 2023

Fans chanted "Russia, Serbia" after Djokovic defeated Russian Andrey Rublev in straight sets to cruise through to his 10th Australian Open semi-final.

One man held up a flag featuring Putin, while wearing a T-shirt bearing the pro-war in Ukraine 'Z' symbol.

A different man had earlier been pictured with a Z symbol T-shirt inside Rod Laver Arena during the match.

Russian and Belarusian players, including Rublev, fellow Russian Karen Khachanov and Belarusian women's semi-finalists Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka, are allowed to compete in Melbourne, but must do so under a neutral banner.

- With AAP.

Next week, Aussie kids return to the school yard for their first day of 2023.

There will be those entering the gates for the very first time, full of nerves and excitement, those who are old hats and for some, it might be the very last time it’ll be their first day back at school, facing down year 12 and all that comes with it.

Today we’re looking at the different types of kids at the school gate on the first day, how you can help with those suffering anxiety and how to handle your own emotions when your child walks in and never looks back.

Feature Image: QLD Police/Getty.