TikTok and a U.S. Government Credibility Problem
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan law that intended to force the sale of the popular social media app, TikTok from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to a United States government-approved owner. It was included as part of a foreign aid deal for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. It had been one of the few governance points that both political parties seemingly agreed upon over the past few years. The bill passed the House of Representatives with a 360–58 vote, and the Senate 79–15. Sadly, but not unsurprisingly, this rare act of agreeability misread an entire generational segment of American society — one that finds great value in TikTok.
I am not part of the TikTok generation, I had not even downloaded the app until a week before the ban’s enforcement. However, for years I understood that Millennials and Gen Z valued TikTok as an entertainment medium and alternative business resource. Some saw TikTok as an advertisement vehicle for their small business, while others used it to generate income directly from the production of short-form video content creation. Even to those critical of TikTok, there was no denying that those born after 1996 prized it. In 2024, TikTok was one of the most popular applications downloaded at the Google Play Store and Apple stores.
Congress, in its seemingly infinite wisdom (yes, sarcasm), decided to take it upon itself to protect Americans from their own decisions without consultation, or even an investigation into the ramifications of such a ban. China is bad, the United States is good. Neither Democrats nor Republicans can ever see shades of gray — only black and white. Perhaps, the United States government was/is correct about the dangers of TikTok, but they completely failed to communicate what the dangers were. What they did manage to accomplish, was the censorship of an extremely popular social media site that would make the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership proud.
Our government tried to sell a suspect narrative to the nation. A story that suggests TikTok, because of ByteDance ownership, is being used as a spying and recruitment mechanism for Chinese intelligence agencies. Imagine, if China had banned iPhones because Apple was based in California and managed by the American CEO, Tim Cook. Certainly, Apple has collaborated with various governmental agencies including the sensitive areas of defense and counterintelligence. Is it the suggestion, that China should ban all Apple products within their borders, because of such association? Are we to believe that TikTok, as some Trojan Horse, that could be used for minor political manipulation is the master plan of Chinese intelligence?
Easily accessible internet access has been around for roughly 40 years. At this point, the transactional nature of the Internet should be widely understood. Individuals routinely divulge enormous amounts of personal data (search history, location, financials, demographics, etc.) to Google, Facebook, X, Apple, and essentially all internet-based corporations. In exchange, they receive free or nearly free services from these businesses. Foreign companies also collect the same data for the same purpose — profits.
Even if ByteDance is lying, and the Chinese Government has direct access to a vast, TikTok database, of the same type of information every other global company and government institution possess, what exactly is the danger to our national security? Americans would be suspicious if Winnie the Pooh is suddenly referred to as a capitalistic pig on every Gen Z’s TikTok feed. Does anyone truly believe that China’s knowledge of Mary Sue’s knock-off Prada purses or how Jim Bob’s poisoning from Tide Pods ingestion presents an inherent danger to the world’s largest military?
It is laughable, to think that a Chinese spy agency is using TikTok dance challenges to find its next CIA mole. Perhaps, the United States populace has misunderstood the danger. If it has, then the United States government shoulders all blame. It failed to explain the potential hazards created by TikTok’s videos. If you told Gen Z that Chinese hackers were trying to infiltrate Wall Street banks to destabilize the American economy, most would view that as an imminent threat that needs prevention. However, convincing Gen Z, that TikTok reaction videos of people watching movies are being used to destroy American society is probably a reach.
Humorously and out of spite, Americans have begun downloading Redbook, a similar Chinese version of TikTok, with actual, verifiable connections to the Chinese government. It had become one of the most downloaded applications in the days leading up to the January 19th ban. As only Americans can, they have produced several memes on Redbook about reconnecting with their Chinese spymasters. If it was ever about national security, why is there no immediate Executive Order or rush to enact new legislation, protecting Americans from the imminent Redbook threat?
Is it possible that the national security threat has been inflated? TikTok has a very young and diverse international user base with many opinions and viewpoints. A more plausible interpretation is that suppressing speech, if disagreeable to Wahington D.C. powerbrokers, was the real end goal.
Our government, especially the new incoming administration, has had a sudden change of heart regarding the dangers of TikTok. Donald Trump, who once staunchly advocated for a national TikTok ban, flipped positions during his 2024 Presidential campaign. Alternative media was a driving force in his November 2024 election victory over Kamala Harris, and TikTok played a role in that victory. Not surprisingly, this has allowed for a reevaluation and a more broad-minded perspective on social media providers.
The days and weeks leading up to the ban have already witnessed a flurry of court actions, and new bills have been presented to Congress, seeking to reverse the ban. Even if TikTok closes shop on January 19th, 2025, any lasting ban is unlikely. The most positive result will be Congress having to think twice before gaslighting the American people on why free speech is bad and censorship is good.
