TikTok became wildly popular in 2018 when it evolved into the most downloaded app of that year. The app's popularity grew during the Covid-19 lock downs in 2020. During this time it reached 1 billion active users in 2021.
The federal government reviewed the app in 2023, causing them to demand that the app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, had to be sold to the United States. It was interesting to learn that this is due to laws that allow the Chinese government to demand data from any Chinese company. ByteDance has loads of American data, which is why this is a data privacy and national security concern. If the app doesn't agree to sell, it will be banned completely in the United States.
This affects people in the United States in many ways. We aren't just losing an entertainment app. Many influencers and content creators have been able to use TikTok as their main source of income which would be suddenly cut off. If they're unable to translate that audience to another app, they lose their main income stream. Young people prefer social media, especially TikTok, as channels for activism on both sides of the political spectrum. It will also lead to advertising shifts for companies that once found success through the app.
I don't have TikTok but I find it surprising that young people will blindly use the app as a reliable source of news. My mom is always sending me links to deepfakes of politicians and she has no idea if it's fake or not. If kids are exposed to this misinformation or disinformation I don't think a ban could be an awful thing but there are also people who utilize TikTok for good.
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