TikTok: A Threat to American Democracy
In the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, the potential for social media to be manipulated by foreign powers became apparent. With TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, having over 170 million monthly active users in the U.S., we must take this threat seriously. TikTok’s influence on young Americans, particularly on college campuses, has already been demonstrated. As we approach the 2024 election, it is crucial to address this issue before it further undermines American democracy.
Why TikTok matters
According to Pew research, 32% of Americans aged 18-29 say they regularly get news from TikTok, a significant increase from 9% in 2020. This makes TikTok one of the top news sources for Generation Z. We have already seen its potential for real-world impact. After the attacks by Hamas against Israel, a surge of pro-Palestinian content on TikTok led to a significant increase in antisemitic incidents on U.S. college campuses.
Social media is meant to reflect people’s beliefs and engagement, but TikTok’s algorithm does more than that. It actively amplifies certain content, potentially influencing public opinion in ways that do not align with reality. This has become evident in the divide between TikTok’s view ratio and public opinion on the Israel-Hamas war.
China’s influence on TikTok
A study by the National Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) revealed that TikTok suppresses content inconvenient to China while amplifying content consistent with China’s foreign policy objectives. Important issues like Tibet, Uyghurs, and Hong Kong receive significantly less representation on TikTok compared to Instagram. Conversely, content that aligns with China’s geopolitical interests, such as supporting Kashmir, is disproportionately amplified on TikTok.
Although TikTok claims its headquarters are in Singapore and Los Angeles, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is 60% owned by American investors. However, ByteDance’s other main asset, Douyin (China’s TikTok), operates under the Chinese Communist Party’s control. TikTok’s future actions may be required to align with the CCP’s agenda, as seen in other Chinese companies like Didi Global and Ant Financial.
Lack of transparency
Following the NCRI’s study, TikTok quietly removed access to metrics that were being used to explore trends on the platform, making it difficult for outside organizations to monitor the spread of certain topics. TikTok claimed that the methodology used by the NCRI was flawed, despite previously utilizing a similar approach to address the Israel-Hamas war. This raises concerns about TikTok’s commitment to transparency.
A path forward in Congress
The data clearly demonstrates TikTok’s history of content suppression, amplification, and sowing division in ways that serve China’s interests. To address this, there are two potential paths forward: either TikTok should be sold off from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or banned outright in the U.S. India has already taken the decisive step of banning TikTok in 2020.
In March 2024, Reps. Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi introduced the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. This legislation aims to sever TikTok’s ties with ByteDance, ensuring the platform’s independence from Chinese influence. By supporting this bill, we can prevent foreign adversaries from controlling what Americans see and hear online.
It is crucial that we learn the lesson from 2016 and take action to safeguard American democracy. Let’s ensure that TikTok is sold or banned before the 2024 election to protect our nation’s future.