By now, you’ve probably heard of the rapidly growing social media app called TikTok that is taking the United States and the world by storm. It’s hard to describe just how influential and far-reaching TikTok has become so quickly. In less than two years since it was released, it has been downloaded over 2 billion times. In just the last quarter, TikTok was downloaded 315 million times—the best quarter for any app, ever. However, many Americans don’t know exactly what it is or how it works. Here are five things you should know about this viral app and how it is changing the nature of social media.

The Rundown

Microsoft Lays Off News Editors – Morning Brew

Microsoft is automating part of its news service. The company laid off about 50 U.S. editors and news staffers, Business Insider reported Friday, and 27 U.K. contractors, The Guardian reported Saturday. 

The technology of witnessing brutality – Axios

From news photography to TV broadcasts to camcorders to smartphones, improvements in the technology of witness over the past century mean we’re more instantly and viscerally aware of each new injustice.

Snap says it is no longer promoting Trump’s account, adding to social media backlash against president – The Washington Post

Snapchat will no longer promote President Trump’s account in the “Discover” tab on the social media app, the company said Wednesday, after a week of showdowns between the president and social media companies.

NASA astronauts just flew SpaceX’s Crew Dragon into orbit for the first time – MIT Technology Review

NASA astronauts launched from US soil for the first time in nine years. And they did it on a private vehicle, for the first time in history.

Chinese coronavirus test maker agreed to build a Xinjiang gene bank – Axios

A leading Chinese gene sequencing and biomedical firm that said it would build a gene bank in Xinjiang is supplying coronavirus tests around the world.