Is it Tick Tock for TikTok?

Why have US politicians suddenly become so obsessed with shutting down this one social media platform, asks Matt Bernardini

Across the world crises surround us, from Israel’s continued assault on the Palestinians, to rising authoritarianism, and out of control climate change. The US, the world’s most powerful country, has the chance to help address all of these problems. And yet for the last few months, our politicians have spent their time debating over whether or not to ban the popular app TikTok.

From 2018 to 2022, TikTok was the most downloaded app in the world. Even though it was recently overtaken by Instagram, it remains hugely popular, especially with young people. 

Yet it is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance, and because of this many politicians in America, who had no problem massively expanding the surveillance state and allowing bulk data collection, have suddenly become curiously concerned about Americans’ privacy.