Vantage | Why India said no to TikTok but US is struggling to ban it

TikTok, the social media sensation that has taken the world by storm, has found itself embroiled in a love-hate relationship with America. While the American populace embraces the platform with open arms, American politicians, on the other hand, have their reservations.

Americans love TikTok

TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon in the United States, captivating millions with its short-form videos and viral trends. It boasts a massive user base, with an estimated 150 million users in the country, making the US its largest market by user count.

However, despite TikTok’s popularity among the masses, American lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding the platform’s ties to China and its parent company, ByteDance. This unease has led to repeated attempts by politicians to impose restrictions on TikTok’s operations in the United States.

Attempted ban

Once again, the spectre of a ban looms over TikTok as 19 lawmakers have introduced a bill aimed at forcing ByteDance to divest its ownership of the platform or face a US ban. This bipartisan effort underscores the gravity of the situation and the bipartisan backing for such measures.

The bill, if passed, would give ByteDance 165 days to sell TikTok’s US operations, effectively severing ties between the platform and its Chinese parent company. This move aims to address concerns about potential influence from the Chinese government, given ByteDance’s headquarters in Beijing.

TikTok’s Chinese connections

TikTok’s association with China has been a source of contention, particularly with reports of the Chinese government acquiring a stake in ByteDance. Despite assurances from TikTok that this arrangement only affects its operations in China, lawmakers remain wary of potential implications for its global operations.

Failure to comply with the proposed law would result in TikTok being blocked from all app stores and internet platforms in the United States, effectively cutting off access to its American user base. This threat highlights the seriousness of the situation and the potential ramifications for TikTok’s future in the country.

Conflicting stances

The conflicting stances on TikTok within the American government reflect the complexity of the issue. While some politicians advocate for a ban citing national security concerns, others, including President Joe Biden, have joined the platform for election campaigning, showcasing a lack of consensus on how to address the issue.

Previous attempts to ban TikTok in the United States have been met with resistance and ultimately failed to materialize into concrete action. Whether America will succeed in regulating TikTok this time remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – the battle between TikTok and American lawmakers is far from over.

The relationship between America and TikTok is fraught with tension and uncertainty with the fate of the platform hanging in the balance as lawmakers grapple with complex geopolitical considerations and domestic concerns.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.