Front Burner

Understanding TikTok: From viral teen videos to Chinese political censorship

Today on Front Burner, we look at TikTok, the wildly popular Chinese-owned social media app that’s in the news this week for pulling a video critical of the mass detention of Uighurs.
The logo of TikTok is seen on a mobile phone screen in this picture illustration taken February 21, 2019. (Danish Siddiqui/Reuters)

This week, TikTok was in the news for pulling a video critical of China's mass detention of Uighurs.

Most of the popular Chinese-owned social media app's users are children and teens who share lip-syncing videos, dance crazes and comedy skits.

But in today's episode, Alex Hern, technology editor at the Guardian, explains why — behind the memes and music — there are some real concerns about censorship, privacy and foreign influence.

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