TikTok is the only good social media app. At least, it used to be. From 2019 until 2021, the algorithm was magic. It had a way of sending videos that you didn’t know you were interested in until you saw them. For me, that meant synchronised dances, vegan recipes and elaborate songs created from internet drama. Then came the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp defamation trial.

For weeks on end this summer, my TikTok feed was hijacked by weird videos valorising Johnny Depp and offering violently hateful commentary about his ex-wife. It didn’t matter how many times I clicked “not interested” or swiped past without watching, more would appear. Whether it came from real fans, opportunists or bots, the pro-Depp content was relentless.

When the case ended, so did the videos. But my algorithm has never fully recovered. Instead of jokes, I’ve landed on a side of TikTok that’s full of protein powder recommendations and gory surgery videos. It’s like a 1990s lads mag come to life.