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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Technology
Kari Paul

TikTok was ‘just a dancing app’. Then the Ukraine war started

A TikTok page shows rows of videos all featuring a closeup shot of the same woman.
The TikTok page for @xenasolo's is filled with videos in support of Ukraine. Photograph: TikTok

Many have called the invasion of Ukraine the world’s first “TikTok war”, and experts say it is high time for the short video platform – once known primarily for silly lip syncs and dance challenge – to be taken seriously.

Some politicians are doing just that. In a speech, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, appealed to “TikTokers” as a group that could help end the war. Last week, Joe Biden spoke to dozens of top users on the app in a first-of-its kind meeting to brief the influencers on the conflict in Ukraine and how the US is addressing it.

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