The USA has a bill underway to ban the use of one of the most used – and addictive – social networks on the planet. But those who make a living on TikTok – and we are talking about influential people with the ability to influence the vote of users of this social network – are politically threatening those who want to move forward with the ban
For those just catching up: US lawmakers have tried again to ban TikTok over national security concerns related to Chinese parent company ByteDance. The bill aims to ban TikTok from US app stores unless the social platform is quickly separated from ByteDance.
The bill, called Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week. And this Wednesday it was approved in the Chamber with 352 votes in favor and 65 against.
Many of the approximately 170 million Americans who use the app have expressed concern that banning TikTok could mean ending a platform that represents much more than a network where young people can follow the latest updates about the Princess of Wales. It’s where they go to make connections, have fun, look for information and make a living. Some of these TikTokkers called their representatives in recent days to urge them to vote “no” on the bill, after the app alerted users to the potential ban.
There are other platforms available to TikTok users – almost every major social media company has spent the last few years trying to imitate the app’s popular formula of quick, short videos combined with a powerful recommendation algorithm that keeps users scrolling. screen. However, moving a loyal audience from one platform to another is easier said than done.
But TikTok isn’t going away from Americans’ phones anytime soon.
The bill faces numerous obstacles to being signed into law, and if it is signed, it will almost certainly face legal challenges. And if the bill becomes law, it remains to be seen whether an American buyer will step in to save the day (if ByteDance is willing to sell the popular platform).
What is the probability of the bill becoming law?
Now that the bill has been approved in the Chamber, it heads to the Senate, where the outcome is more uncertain.
One major obstacle: The bill is largely unpopular among TikTok users, many of whom are also young voters who could have major influence on the 2024 US elections, something senators are well aware of. Some TikTok users published videos before this Wednesday’s vote in which they appear to call their representatives and threaten to vote for alternative candidates if they voted in favor of the bill.
“This process was secret and the bill was passed for a reason: it is a ban,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement after Wednesday’s vote in the House. “We hope the Senate considers the facts, listens to voters and understands the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses and the 170 million Americans who use our service.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday refused to commit to bringing the TikTok bill to the Senate floor for a vote. “The Senate will consider the legislation when it comes from the House,” he said.
On Tuesday, Senate President Dick Durbin said he was concerned about the constitutionality of the bill. He added that the bill’s passage could have political consequences — including for President Joe Biden, who has said he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk — before the 2024 election.
“Cutting out a large group of young voters is not the best strategy for re-election,” Durbin said.
That may be even more true after Biden’s likely opponent in November, former President Donald Trump, said he opposes banning TikTok, a reversal of his position as president.
Even if the bill managed to pass the Senate and be signed into law, TikTok has indicated that it would most likely challenge the legislation in court. A similar bill in Montana was put on hold pending a ruling after TikTok claimed it violated the First Amendment.
How does the law work?
If enacted, the law will give TikTok about five months to separate from ByteDance, otherwise app stores in the United States will be banned from hosting the app on their platforms.
App stores that violate the legislation could be fined based on the number of users of a banned app. The bill establishes fines of $5,000 per user of a prohibited application. Thus, in the case of TikTok, Apple and Google could be liable for up to US$850 billion in fines each.
It’s unclear whether ByteDance would agree to sell or spin off TikTok. If it did, the company might have difficulty finding an American buyer willing to pay, despite the app’s popularity.
TikTok is worth around $100 billion, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. And many of America’s big tech companies already face fierce regulatory scrutiny that could prevent them from making such a major acquisition.
And while the law would ban TikTok from U.S. app stores, removing the existing app from users’ phones would, in practice, pose a more difficult task for lawmakers seeking to block its use in the United States. Additionally, virtual private network (VPN) services could allow American users to bypass a ban on TikTok by making it appear that an American user is connecting to the Internet from a different country.
Where can TikTok users go?
There is no shortage of alternative social media platforms where users can create or consume short videos.
YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and
Many TikTok users also say that transitioning a large TikTok audience to another platform is complicated. And different platforms have different monetization schemes, which could mean challenges for creators looking to rebuild businesses that relied on TikTok if they are forced to switch to another social network.
TikTok’s heavy emphasis on the “For You” page makes it much easier for brands to reach new audiences compared to other apps, TikTok creator and business owner Nadya Okamoto explained to CNN this week.
“TikTok users are mainly looking for content from people they don’t necessarily follow yet. And so, as a company, this is something unique,” he said.
Still, some TikTok users appear to be preparing for the worst. Some users posted that they were working to follow their favorite creators on other platforms, others posted “farewell” videos in case the app was banned.
“If you’re someone who makes money from social media, you have to figure out a way to get your audience off this app… What are you going to do if there’s a total and complete ban on TikTok?” said a creator known for “Business with Sab”, whose content focuses on growing an audience on TikTok, in a video published on the platform last week. “You have to figure out a way to get people on your email list.”
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