With nearly 150 million users just in the United States, TikTok is arguably the nation's favorite source of entertainment. From cooking to educational to satirical videos, TikTok appeals to a wide range of backgrounds and cohorts. This extremely wide range of content is driven by TikTok’s algorithm, a system that makes content recommendations specific to each user. It decides which videos a user might like based on their individual interests and displays them on the user's For You page. But is what we see on TikTok purely a result of this algorithm? Can others influence what we perceive? These questions have been brought up recently in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. 

As the world increases technological advancements and virtual interactions, society becomes considerably more impressionable. What we see is what we believe. Therefore, as a result of TikTok’s ownership by Beijing-based ByteDance paired with the US’ competition and tension with China, the US government worries about TikTok within the country. With the ability to influence the TikTok algorithm, ByteDance could potentially work with the Chinese government to spread misinformation to US users. As a result, the US government is seeking action to cease the possible threat. For example, Montana lawmakers early in 2024 passed a bill for a state-level ban on the app. Though this ban was eventually blocked by a federal judge on the basis of violating free speech, the bill represents the first political step toward banning TikTok. 

In addition to the threat to US beliefs, TikTok’s encroachment on users’ privacy is another concern of the government. The Chinese Communist Party holds massive sway over private corporations in China, and in the past, has punished executives and companies for not toeing the party line. Due to this, the US government believes the Chinese government will continue to demand sensitive user data, such as location information, from Chinese companies without reason. Tensions regarding spying between the US and China have been high since China floated several surveillance balloons over the US, only adding support for a US ban on TikTok. 

The TikTok ban in the US has taken a significant step forward with the House of Representatives passing a bill requiring ByteDance to either sell the app or face a nationwide ban. The bill was voted heavily in favor of the ban of TikTok, with slightly more Republicans in favor than Democrats (197 vs. 155, respectively). The vote in the House of Representatives has taken extreme criticism as all allegations of Chinese government surveillance of the app have been purely speculation, and the app has helped numerous social influencers, businesses, and political figures reach out to an exceedingly large audience. In fact, Democratic US Representative for North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District and the “darling politician of social media” Jeff Jackson voted in favor of the bill, despite amassing over 2 million followers on the platform to advance his political career. This move by Jackson only underscores the controversy and debate surrounding the ban.

With the bill to ban TikTok set to go through voting within the Senate, American users may be cherishing the app’s last days. While most House Representatives are arguing they don't believe the bill is meant to ban TikTok but instead have the app sold into American enterprise, Singaporean owner Shou Chew has referenced that he will not be selling the app. With this in mind, it’s important to realize what a ban will mean for the country. A ban on TikTok would take billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses, put more than 300,000 American jobs at risk, and take away entertainment from millions. In addition, the ban would threaten America’s most sacred principle: freedom of speech. The ban on TikTok is not only threatening convenience and prosperity, but it is threatening the pillars upon which the country was built.