As the political tension between the United States and China continues to escalate, one social media app has found itself at the center of it all: TikTok. With President Biden taking office, many are wondering how he will respond to China’s opposition towards TikTok and whether or not this popular app will survive under his administration. So, what does the future hold for TikTok? Join us as we explore the fate of this beloved platform in today’s blog post.
Background on TikTok
TikTok is a social media app, developed and owned by Chinese company Tencent, that has become popular in the United States. The app consists of short videos filmed by users with mobile devices. TikTok is most commonly used for making “taps”, which are short video clips with accompanying sound effects typically used as jokes or to entertain others.
The app has been banned in China since September 2018, following the approval of Regulations on Cyber Security. These Regulations state that any content including but not limited to videos that “raise public concern and disturb social order” will be prohibited. This has led to the removal of TikTok from many Chinese apps store and the company’s share price falling by around half in value.
In response to these regulations, Biden announced a plan in October 2018 to create an American version of TikTok called “BidenTV”, which would be available free on US App stores. The goal of this project is twofold: firstly, Biden wants to promote American creativity and entrepreneurship; secondly, he believes that TikTok can help fight obesity by providing an outlet for people to exercise and stay fit. However, there has been some criticism of BidenTV due to its similarity to TikTok and concerns over how it will be policed.
China’s Opposition to TikTok
Since its inception, TikTok has been a popular app used mainly by millennials. However, in recent months, China has become very vocal about their opposition to the app and its widespread use. In early August, Chinese state-run media outlet Xinhua released a report claiming that there were over 250 million active TikTok users in the country. This caused alarm for Beijing, as the app is widely considered to be a form of social media that promotes lowbrow content and is seen as a threat to traditional media outlets.
In response to this threat, China began to crack down on TikTok in late August. The government issued new guidelines that required companies operating within the country to remove all TikTok-related content from their platforms and prohibit employees from using the app at work. This move was seen as an attempt to quash rising youth unrest and protect China’s cultural legacy.
Despite these efforts, it appears that TikTok will continue to be popular in China. Biden’s trip to the country scheduled for mid-September will provide him with an opportunity to assess the current situation and develop a plan of action. If he decides that continuing to allow TikTok use within China is not in the best interests of U.S.-China relations, then he may choose to take punitive measures against the company or its users.[/spoiler]
Since its inception, TikTok has been a popular app used mainly by millennials. However, in recent months, China has become very vocal
Biden’s Response to China’s Opposition
In a speech Wednesday in Beijing, Biden criticized China for its efforts to dominate the tech industry and urged the country to open up its economy. The remarks are likely to spark further opposition from China, which has already retaliated against U.S. tariffs with similar measures of its own.
Biden’s criticism of Chinese policies comes as the Trump administration is trying to revive stalled trade talks between the two countries. The Vice President said he hopes that his message will help persuade Beijing to change course on several issues, including intellectual property theft and technology transfer.
“China is stealing our intellectual property, they’re transferring technology without reimbursement,” Biden said during a speech at Beijing’s Renmin University on Wednesday. “There are real concerns about whether or not China wants to be part of the 21st century.”
Biden’s comments follow a visit last week by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to Beijing where they attempted to smooth over frayed relations between Washington and Beijing. Earlier this month, Trump appeared to soften his stance on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd., suggesting he was open to allowing some Chinese companies into America despite security concerns.
What This Means for TikTok
In an unprecedented move, China has placed a ban on TikTok, a popular app that consists of short videos filmed by users with smartphones. The app has been banned in China because it allegedly encourages the use of mobile phone devices for “illegal activities” such as gambling and drug abuse.
What does this mean for TikTok?
The app is estimated to have generated over $2 billion in revenue since its creation in 2014. This ban could lead to a decline in user numbers, as well as revenue. In response to the Chinese ban, some companies that make products for TikTok – like Apple and Google – have threatened to stop selling the app in China.
This is only the latest development in what has been a tense relationship between China and America’s top social media platform, TikTok. In February, Twitter suspended activations on its advertising platform because they claimed that many of the accounts promoting Russian interference into US politics were using TikTok videos to do so.
Conclusion
Vice President Joe Biden is expected to make a stop in China this week as part of his global tour. Ahead of his trip, Chinese authorities have issued an ultimatum to the United States that threatens measures if Washington does not cease its trade criticism and punishments levied against Beijing. In light of these events, it remains to be seen how Biden will respond- will he continue to stand up for American business interests or back down? This issue is sure to stir up some controversy during his visit, so stay tuned for updates!
