When it comes to the disappearance of culture-defining platforms, it sounds like a scene from a science fiction novel. However, for one-third of American adults, and the other two-thirds whose lives have undoubtedly been affected by it, they may have to face such a reality. If the US Supreme Court really imposes a ban on the Chinese-owned app on January 19th, as is expected, it will be a display of national security. I have spent several years researching cases of linguicide, where authoritarian regimes have burned dictionaries, or sent people to prison just for singing a song. The dismantling of TikTok in the United States seems to have a similar sign, a ruthless elimination of a communication tool that challenges Silicon Valley hegemony, and gives the United States a so-called free competition feast.