TikTok Under Fire

In 2016 the Chinese company ByteDance launched their new app TikTok and it quickly became the most popular social media platform with millions of downloads every year. The app started as a sort of mirror to the app Musically with a few more features but quickly evolved to become a platform for entertainment, dancing, commentary, and more. 

However, since the beginning, many Americans have been concerned with the safety of the app as it was created in China and thus, could have connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). All apps founded within China are obligated under legal statutes to report all data and information collected by the apps to the government. If you’ve ever taken a look at the Terms and Conditions of TikTok you will soon learn that the app collects data from many aspects of your phone not always in junction with the app.  

On March 23rd fear of the US’s security peaked with the trial between congressional parties and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew debating whether or not America would continue to allow the Tik-Tok app to run within the country. TikTok has already been banned within the US on any government-issued devices early in March. 

The trial focused on the United States' concerns about TikTok tracking and stealing data from American citizens and giving it to the Chinese government as a method of spying. Representative Richard Hudson, from North Carolina, worried if his phone had TikTok it could access other people's data who were on the same network as the TikTok user. Other representatives claimed ByteDance was tracking American citizens and could recognize them through the facial recognition software on the app. 

This trial, however, was anything but productive and TikTok’s representative (CEO Shou Zi Chew) was continually ignored and disrespected during the hearing. Throughout the trial, Congressional members interrupted the CEO countless times and often strayed from the point of the trial. At one point, asking Chew about China’s discrimination of the Uyghur population despite TikTok nor Chew himself having any relation with Chinese human rights violations.

This trial had bipartisan support with a majority of congress members from both parties supporting the ban on TikTok, especially regarding government-issued devices.

The TikTok community has responded to this trial as if it were a mere joke. Opting to comment on the absurdity of the trial over their concerns for security. Many of the platformers and streamers on TikTok are very upset that the government is trying to ban the app alongside how the trial unfolded with the disrespect towards TikTok’s CEO Chew. Many of the American platformers on TikTok are frantically trying to make separate accounts on Social Media platforms like Instagram, while others have decided to “spite the government” and not support any American-run social media apps.

Overall the way that the trial unfolded has caused a visceral reaction from many Americans toward the U.S. government. For many this app is how many people make their money and with the economy today, having a stable job is vital to being able to merely survive.

As of April 19th Montana has become the first state to officially ban TikTok on public devices. In a legislature vote of 54 - 43, the law will be taken into effect starting in January 2024. This bill would address private devices as the state has already opted to ban TikTok from government-issued devices. Oddly enough, Montanans would only be charged with a 10,00 dollar fine if they are to download the app. Those who already have the app are in a sense, exempt from these rules and are allowed to continue their use of the app.

As more and more states crack down on the use of TikTok many TikTok users are beginning to ask their followers to follow them on other platforms like Instagram and Youtube.