Why TikTok might be banned in the US soon

TikTok might be banned in the US soon, why?‍

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The background:‍

The US is concerned that the Chinese government might access American users' data for intelligence purposes.

TikTok had already worked on a billion-dollar project to isolate American data, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy US regulators.

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‍What’s happening:‍

The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill to ban the app unless it's sold to a non-Chinese entity.

However, before it becomes law, it must be approved by the Senate and President Joe Biden. If that happens, TikTok will have 6 months to divest.

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‍My take:‍

The primary concern of the US regarding TikTok isn't about data privacy. In fact, there's no evidence that the Chinese government has used the app's data for intelligence or military purposes.

Plus, the vast majority of smartphones are either iPhones or run Android, both developed by American companies. It shouldn’t be too difficult to prevent TikTok from gathering certain types of data.

The main concern is the algorithm.

TikTok can influence what people see on its platform.

With its vast reach in America (170m users), it can steer public opinion on crucial geopolitical issues, such as the conflict in Palestine.

Worse still, it can foster extremism.

It's a proven fact that social media and their echo chambers contribute to the development of more extreme ideas.

Extremism is the enemy of democracy, the foundation of western society. Which in turn is the “enemy” of totalitarian societies like China’s.

Not by chance Trump has recently come out against the ban, despite his earlier opposition to the app while he was president.

What's your take?