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

Many features make the platform susceptible to disinformation as world leaders try to harness influencers' power for good

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.