The FBI has called it a national security threat. The US government has passed a law forcing officials to delete it from their phones. Texas senator Ted Cruz has denounced it as “a Trojan horse the Chinese Communist party can use to influence what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think”. And in March its CEO will defend its existence before the US Congress. The target of this strong rhetoric might prove surprising to some: an app best known for viral dances, launching generation Z media stars, and sucking teens down an hours-long content abyss.
In addition, at least 27 US states have blocked TikTok on devices they’ve issued, affecting state schools and universities, too. A bipartisan bill, introduced in Congress last December, stipulates banning the
