Last month, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that puts TikTok at a serious crossroads. The options left for ByteDance, the Chinese technology company that owns TikTok, are either to sell the app or have it banned in the U.S.
TikTok, one of the world’s most famous social media apps today, has over 170 million users in the U.S. alone — over 50% of the population. While this is a remarkable feat given that the app was only introduced to Americans in August 2018, the government is rife with concerns surrounding the potential security risk that TikTok poses as a foreign-owned app with such a large American following, especially in an election year.
With strong bipartisan support in the House, it is unclear what will happen once the bill hits the Senate floor. However, the bill — which was introduced in March — is the most severe measure targeting TikTok to date. It hopes to have ByteDance sell TikTok to a non-Chinese company within the next six months.
As an international platform where people come together to share memes, gossip and slices of their lives, TikTok has truly become an app of all trades. It even serves as a means for people to discover new music and artists who advertise their work on the platform for users to add to their videos. Skyrocketing in popularity during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic lockdown, TikTok quickly became a source of comfort for many who found connection with the outside world through the app.
Despite the strong House support (352-65) behind the TikTok ban bill, other congresspeople are not in favor of the ban, citing worries around the undeniable popularity of the app in the U.S. as well as around free speech infringement related to the First Amendment.
Since the bill has been introduced, several TikTok users have gone on the platform to voice their opposition. Some have even traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest and speak to policymakers and lawmakers in hopes of sparking a change. Many of these TikTok users had their lodging, meals and travel fees paid for by ByteDance itself.
While ByteDance continues to deny any Chinese government involvement in TikTok’s activities or user data saved, the TikTok ban bill still awaits a mixed Senate. The bill passed smoothly in the House after just a week of being introduced, but some delays are expected before it will be the topic of Senate discussion and debate.
With an uncertain future ahead for TikTok, musicians and record labels will have to start devising backup music distribution and advertising strategies in this increasingly digital age.
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