What’s up With TikTok Getting Banned?

If you’ve been on the internet, you’ve probably seen talk about a TikTok ban. I found out today when I decided to check my Twitter before beginning my daily routine. Naturally, my feed was flooded with the usual internet drama and “cancel culture”, but something else stood out. A gleaming headline flashed “TIKTOK IS GETTING BANNED” into my face. Naturally, I was very confused. 

A google search confirmed that the topic was a legitimate theory, so i decided to do a bit more research. The app currently has 100 million US users alone, making up an eighth of the worldwide total. 

So, what’s the issue? 

Apparently, it all comes back to the owner of the platform, Bytedance. The company is based out of Beijing, which is raising doubts about American user security. Despite claims by Bytedance that user data is stored in a location outside China under close surveillance, policymakers worry that the Chinese government has compromised user data security, specifically for US citizens. In fact, multiple families are suing TikTok in a class action suit reported on by NPR, citing probable cause for believing that user data such as facial features and physical location is being transferred to private Chinese servers. Lawyers on the case claim that while the location of the data storage may be inside the states, the information is actively being transferred to Chinese-related servers via a third party, noting “Such information reveals TikTok users’ precise physical location, including possibly indoor locations within buildings, and TikTok users’ apps that possibly reveal mental or physical health, religious views, political views, and sexual orientation.”

President Trump states “As far as TikTok is concerned we’re banning them from the United States,” also noting “It’s a great asset, but it’s not a great asset in the United States unless they have the approval of the United States. So it’ll close down on Sept. 15, unless Microsoft or somebody else is able to buy it and work out a deal.”

So, should we be worried? 

The short answer is no. Bytedance has made it very clear that they will favor the USA over China in any circumstance. They’ve expressed American sentiment in a multitude of ways, including hiring former Disney executive Kevin Mayer as acting C.E.O of the company. Not only that, but Bytedance is also willing to take on primarily American investors for the USA operations branch. 

Upon offering to sell majority shares or the USA platform as a whole, Microsoft has taken a deep interest in the product and has emerged as a frontrunner to purchase the operation. Considering almost a third of the American population uses the app, a buyer-whether it be Microsoft or not-will likely emerge before the official termination date. With immense pressure, the price tag (an estimated $50 billion) will also become predictably flexible, adding to the chance of a purchase.  Microsoft is no stranger to buying social platforms, having purchased LinkedIn in 2016. 

In conclusion, given the size of TikTok and the flexibility of Bytedance, a deal will likely be reached. The more prominent problem is the increasing cybersecurity issue with China, and how it’ll be addressed in the future. However, TikTok probably won’t be going anywhere.