ISIS is reportedly trying to spread propaganda on TikTok now

The Islamic State has recently been trying to spread propaganda to young users on TikTok, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The popular video app has removed about two dozen accounts for posting ISIS propaganda videos, some of which feature "stars and hearts that stream across the screen in an apparent attempt to resonate with young people," the Journal writes. These findings come from Storyful, the social media intelligence agency. Some of the videos reportedly showed "corpses paraded through streets," with certain accounts reportedly having more than 1,000 followers.

ISIS has been known to spread propaganda on social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, but the Journal reports this TikTok effort looks to be "part of a new show of strength — and possible enlistment tool — as U.S. troops withdraw from Syria." TikTok allows users to post short-form videos, and roughly 30 percent of users are under 18, the Journal reports.

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"The rhyme, beat, evocative lyrics and punchy delivery are especially appealing to youth," extremism expert Elisabeth Kendall told the Journal of the videos. "This catchy sing-along method for propagating ISIS ideology means it spreads quickly and sticks in the collective memory. It tends to be far more effective than sermons or theological debate and treatises."

A spokesperson for TikTok told the Journal, "We permanently ban any such accounts and associated devices as soon as identified, and we continuously develop ever-stronger controls to proactively detect suspicious activity." Read the full, disturbing report at The Wall Street Journal.