The idea that TikTok poses a national security threat is laughable, as if accessing mass data about teenagers in the United States filming themselves doing silly things would offer Beijing a strategic advantage.

It may be argued that TikTok is the ultimate addictive diversion for young Americans and therefore bad for mental health and personal growth. I would agree with that but then, any number of American social media platforms are already doing exactly that. And, increasingly enhanced by artificial intelligence.