**John Oliver Takes Aim at TikTok Ban in Season 11 Finale**

In the concluding episode of Season 11 of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver delved into the heated legal battle between TikTok and the U.S. government over attempts to ban the popular social media platform, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.

Oliver began the finale by humorously summarizing some "horrendous headlines" from the past week. Among them was Mark Zuckerberg's surprising collaboration with artist T-Pain on a cover of "Get Low," which Oliver comically described as “Kidz Bop for adults, where all the swears are intact but there's still a deep lingering sense that music was a mistake.”

Shifting focus to the primary topic, Oliver discussed the conflicting agendas of TikTok and the U.S. government. He highlighted a viral video featuring a chocolatier named Amaury Guichon, who seemed initially to be crafting an inappropriate chocolate sculpture. This led Oliver to joke about a hypothetical game show called "Dick or Snake?," likening it to "Is it Cake?" but with heightened injury risks.

Oliver pointed out that one of TikTok's most controversial features is its rapid algorithm that collects user data intensively: "That way it can quickly figure out exactly what you like and feed you more of the same thing over and over again, not unlike a doting grandmother or Marvel Studios," he quipped, taking a playful dig at the entertainment giant.

In a more serious vein, Oliver showcased several TikToks in which women credited the app with helping them realize their queer identity. He humorously compared TikTok’s role in speeding up such personal revelations to previously slower mediums like long-term therapy or episodes of “Xena: Warrior Princess.” He further jested, “I honestly don’t think a machine has been responsible for more sexual awakenings since The Iron Giant,” calling the robot from the movie a charming figure.

Despite his skepticism towards multinational corporations that profit from consumer data, Oliver argued that TikTok’s actions are in line with Silicon Valley’s questionable standards. He likened it to a 19th-century soft drink company whose product was "mostly cocaine," drawing a parallel with modern privacy concerns.

Oliver concluded by scrutinizing the rationale behind banning TikTok in the context of privacy protection. He compared it to banning a specific car model to combat climate change, suggesting that while it may have some impact, it’s largely insignificant given the broader issues at play.

Wrapping up the show and hinting at the upcoming Season 12 in 2025, Oliver joined a popular TikTok trend himself, mimicking Charli XCX’s “Apple” dance, leaving viewers with a blend of serious commentary and light-hearted entertainment.