TN reacts to potential TikTok ban
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – President Joe Biden has signed a bill that could lead to a nationwide TikTok ban. Leaders from parties have warned the social media platform poses a threat to national security.
“Americans’ personal and private information that they disclose to TikTok falls into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, and that’s not acceptable,” said John Rose, Representative for Tennessee’s Sixth Congressional District.
The potential TikTok ban came as part of a long-delayed $95 billion foreign aid package. Congress is now forcing the China-based company to sell the platform within nine months or face a ban.
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Rose claimed the platform currently poses a clear and present danger to Americans. He said this bill would help prevent foreign adversaries from surveilling and manipulating folks online.
“China has made clear its frankly evil intent with respect to not only TikTok, but a host of other applications like that and other places, where they’re engaging with the American people, so it’s important that we get that done,” Rose said.
Rose explained that this does not necessarily ban TikTok, rather it requires the platform to separate itself from control by the Chinese government.
“It would force the Chinese Communist Party to divest TikTok,” Rose said. “I think that would be in the best interest of the American people.”
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This move did not come without pushback from TikTok users and creators.
“What we’re hearing from politicians, who it seems maybe haven’t actually used the platform, is that when you log into TikTok, it reflects who you are, it reflects your interests,” said Giselle Ugarte, a talent manager, content creator and coach. “It’s a mirror, so if what you’re seeing on there is toxic, negative, dark or political, that’s because it’s seeing you lean into those political conversations.”
Ugarte admits TikTok has its downfalls, however, she feels it provides much more benefit than it does harm.
“Social media is a tool,” Ugarte said. “In a lot of ways, social media is like a box of matches. Can matches be dangerous for children? Absolutely. They could set something on fire. You could add gasoline, you could burn a whole house down or a forest or you can use it to light a candle. You could use it to start a fire that actually brings people together where they share stories.”
In a recent social media post, TikTok said it doesn’t have any plans to sell the platform.
“This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court,” the company wrote on the social platform X. “We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail.”
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With the future of TikTok in limbo, Ugarte advised content creators to branch out to other social media platforms and sources of revenue.
“I recommend that people put their faces online and don’t just create faceless content so that you can tell and know that person’s name and put a face to their name and find them should their account get banned or hacked or deleted,” Ugarte said. “Luckily, we are seeing every platform adopt video, we’re seeing on Facebook and Instagram and YouTube and even LinkedIn becoming more receptive to that. I hope if you weren’t listening before, you are listening now.”
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