On March 13, TikTok was again vulnerable as US lawmakers pressed forward with a bill that might result in a nationwide ban on the platform. This bill gives Beijing-based parent company ByteDance two significant options: either sell TikTok or face a ban.
With over 170 million active US users, lawmakers have tried to control the site at different times due to its ties to China. Former President Donald Trump attempted to impose an executive order to outlaw TikTok in 2020, but the courts thwarted this after TikTok filed a lawsuit. According to reports, lawmakers contend that the platform management is best served by maintaining national security since the Chinese government might utilize TikTok to spy on Americans or weaponize it to subtly influence the American public by amplifying or stifling particular content. These claims that TikTok might be a weapon for the Chinese government have been refuted. According to TikTok, it has never given Chinese authorities access to customer data from Americans and won’t if requested.
Furthermore, recent reports have claimed that if the ban finally becomes law, it would be detrimental to small businesses that use the platform for marketing awareness and customer engagement. Also, social media influencers who have built their online credibility over the years will not be left out and depend on this for brand deals or endorsements. For example, a report from Bloomberg sheds insight on how TikTok is juicing home sales. DailyMail states that a slim majority of Americans think TikTok data ends up with the Chinese government. They also agree that it shouldn’t be outlawed. On the flip side, according to the Pew Research Center, half of Americans favor a US government ban on TikTok, while 22% are against the notion, and more than a quarter are doubtful. TikTok claims a total ban threatens millions of businesses, the livelihoods of countless creators across the country, and the ability of artists to find an audience.
To examine online conversations following this development, Sprinklr was used to study social media trends and public opinion. The figures show over 692.77k mentions, resulting in about 9.57 billion reach. In addition, an examination of the topic’s general sentiment reveals that 394,103 mentions were negative, accounting for roughly 84.42% of the discourse, while approximately 72.76k mentions were positive, accounting for 15.58%. Top themes from these conversations, including positive and negative mentions, include TikTok, Ban, Reason, House, Congress, Censorship, and Americans. The results indicate that a number of Americans hold negative views about the development, with many pointing out that strict issues affecting the nation’s level of living should be the government’s top priority. Some, however, believe that the US must protect its security since other nations, such as China, will not want a US company to have a dominant position in social media within their borders; as a result, they concur that social media should be outlawed.
I’ll support the TikTok ban when Trump can sign it as “47.” He proposed in 2019. It was blocked! Let’s have him sign it in 2025. Until then, it’s sketch!
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) March 22, 2024
People are starving, homeless, minimum wage hasn't been changed in about 15 years but noooooo give all the money to Israel and ban TikTok.
— Lord Maru (@LordMarukio) March 19, 2024
Yeah, ban TikTok. It's for the best. Lol
— Bruke (@BrukeFasil) March 31, 2024
Another reason why they want to ban TikTok is that people are talking to each other and realizing the system doesn't work. In addition, they are mobilizing to change things. When the people start to realize their power and exercise that power, that's when the corporate dictators… https://t.co/LLGIdPiURg
— Jaybefaunt🏳️🌈 (@Jaybefaunt) March 17, 2024
This country can't address any real problems facing the country, but they can fund genocide, ban TikTok & draft a laws to address something something that's already illegal in the first place.
— Boomer Grievance Resolution Department 🇵🇸 (@ljmontello) March 18, 2024
But keep acting like this isn't a crumbling clownshow empire. https://t.co/6ZuX3G2NIS
Although the House version is now in the lead, it still needs to pass the Senate and be signed into law by President Biden. President Joe Biden has stated he will sign the bill if it is passed by the legislature. In such a case, ByteDance would have 180 days to find a suitable buyer for TikTok.
Author: Bowale Odukale
