Why TikTok is so influential — and why that’s particularly worrisome now

Whoever owns the app moving forward will steer policy. | Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images TikTok is not just the most downloaded app in the world; it’s the most powerful information platform on the planet.  The app is also a political flashpoint. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company under the shadow of Beijing. For years, US lawmakers have tried to rein it in, either by banning it outright or forcing a sale to American investors. Now, with Donald Trump back in office, that fight has entered a new phase that could reshape the social media landscape. Last week, Trum