The US Congress is currently discussing a bill that could result in the ban of the popular app TikTok. In addition to the House of Representatives, this bill is also being supported by the Biden Administration. So, what does this actually mean?
Why is the US Congress Trying to Ban TikTok?
According to the Justice Department in an article by Rolling Stone, the department is set to brief lawmakers on how Chinese company ByteDance which owns TikTik might be using the app to influence the U.S elections. According to Rolling Stone, a Biden Administration spokesperson has also suggested that foreign powers can use the app to influence ‘American’s views and beliefs’.
There is no doubt that TikTok can be used as an influence tool. However, this ideology should not just be regarding TikTok, as any other social media platform can be used to influence people as well. While this remains true, the House of Representatives is expected to take this vote on Wednesday, 13th March 2024. The Act which has been named ‘Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Ac’ will either get thrown out or passed today.
Although TikTok appears to be one of the main focuses, with this new bill the president can designate certain apps as a national security risk. According to the bill, however, this will only be done regarding apps that have ties to foreign governments. The more interesting part about the TikTok ban bill is that while Biden is all for the bill, his opponent Trump is against the TikTok ban.
Can TikTok Ban Cause More Harm than Good?
One of the biggest questions is whether the TikTok ban would be in favour of the majority. Since TikTok got popular during the COVID-19 pandemic it has been a lifeline for many. The TikTok creator find has allowed content creators from all around the world to utilize social media as a job. Although this was already a possibility through YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, TikTok’s short format has garnered extreme popularity. With this, TikTok has become a social media manager’s dream go-to spot. Through TikTok, creators are able to get the audience to focus on a product in a fun method.
With this, one of the biggest fears around the U.S. TikTok ban is how badly this would affect artists. In addition to content creators, several small businesses and artists also use TikTok as a major marketing platform.
This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience, and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country, says a TikTok spokesperson.
Many have also come to see this as the Government taking away their freedom of speech. TikTok has become a popular hotspot for all discussions from politics to celebrity culture. As the younger generation has moved past reading news, TikTok has also become a place to stay up to date on the latest news. Without TikTok, many would be unaware of the Kate Middleton scandal as well!
What is Divestment?
Under this new legislation, any company controlled by a foreign adversary would be requested to divest in 180 days. But what does this mean? Divestment means that the company would be selling the app to a U.S.-based company. If this bill gets passed, and ByteDance refuses to sell, the TikTok ban will officially get implemented in the US!
