
Why Half of America Wants TikTok Banned
By Movieguide® Contributor
According to a recent study, over half of the U.S. wants TikTok excluded from American devices.
“A majority of Americans (56%) have an unfavorable view of TikTok, and half support a nationwide U.S. ban on the app from China-based ByteDance, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll,” Variety reported May 1.
One main concern around the platform is that the Chinese government can access users’ data, per the NY Times.
“In 2022, ByteDance said it fired four employees for ‘misconduct’ after the company found they accessed TikTok data on several users, including two reporters,” Variety noted.
Over 50% of Americans think TikTok sways public opinion. About 46% believe that China spies on Americans through the platform.
“About 50% of Americans support a TikTok ban, while 32% oppose it and 18% are not sure. Just 31% of those 18-34 say they are in favor of a ban, and 50% say they oppose it. Most Americans 35-54 (54%) and 55 and older (60%) say they support a ban of the app,” Variety said.
“President Biden signed the ‘Protecting Americans’ Data From Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024’ into law on April 24, after it passed in Congress with solid bipartisan support. The legislation requires ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok within nine months (with a potential 90-day extension to the deadline) to a party or parties not based in a country the U.S. designates a ‘foreign adversary’—and if it doesn’t, the distribution of TikTok would be outlawed,” Variety said.
TikTok announced it does not want to sell its platform and will fight the legislation on First Amendment grounds.
Movieguide® reported on April 26:
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion national security package that included a plan to ban TikTok in the United States.
However, the ban wouldn’t go into effect until after the 2024 Presidential election in November.
“TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, will remain a force throughout the campaign, providing a platform for candidates to reach predominantly younger voters. An earlier version of the bill could have banned the popular video-sharing app prior to the election, but recent changes mean lawmakers and Biden may not face such an immediate voter backlash,” NBC News reported.
“In remarks last week before the vote on the TikTok divest-or-ban bill, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, suggested TikTok and ByteDance are ‘weaponizing’ data and AI to spy on Americans, including journalists covering the company,” Variety reported.
CBS News asserts that the platform can be “weaponized” through the suppression or amplification of content.
“Per the Ipsos/Reuters poll, 90% of U.S. adults believe content creators would migrate to alternative platforms if TikTok were banned. In addition, 45% said they worry a TikTok ban would negatively impact small businesses or performing artists, and 46% agree that a ban would infringe free-speech rights,” Variety said.