Protesters from the TikTok community gather in Washington, DC, to voice their opposition against a possible ban of the app in the US. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, they are trying to tell that a countrywide app prohibition would be greeted with strong public outcry.
Outbursts of Disapproval
"TikTok is not a children's dancing app." This is a statement from Aidan Kohn-Murphy, founder of the advocacy organization Gen-Z for Change and a college student with almost 300,000 TikTok followers. "It is one of the most powerful tools that young people have to engage each other and to get civically involved."
Kohn-Murphy was among more than 20 TikTok stars with substantial followers who were requested by the company to go to Washington, DC, this week. They were invited to persuade legislators and others in anticipation of Thursday's hearing, Mar. 23, by TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew before a House committee.
TikTok, which is controlled by Beijing-based ByteDance, has launched an influencer push in response to ongoing worries from US authorities. What the US fear is that the app may be used by Chinese authorities to spy on Americans or promote contentious or manipulative material.
The Biden administration recently told the Chinese owners of TikTok to sell their shares in the firm, or the US might prohibit the app. Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are planning to ask Chew about security concerns and other matters.
The influencers' lodging and transportation costs were paid for by TikTok. On Wednesday, Mar. 22, the company took the influencers to the Capitol grounds, where they filmed their own videos and stood for interviews with the media.
Later in the day, the influential individuals met with members of Congress and had a press conference outside the Capitol with Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY).
Bowman questioned the "hysteria," "panic," and "targeting" of TikTok, implying that anti-Chinese bias was at play and that lawmakers should instead address more systemic issues with social media.
Integral Role
During a press conference on Wednesday outside the Capitol, TikTok's influencers emphasized the app's claim that it is independent of any government and an essential platform for 150 million Americans.
"It would be difficult to be able to support a candidate that would take away something that is so integral to the direction we're going as a society," said Baedri Nichole, a bakery owner from Columbus, Ohio, whose "hot cocoa bomb" dessert went viral on TikTok.
TikTok user Patriotic Kenny, aka 81-year-old retired military man Kenny Jary, says he uses the app to earn money to purchase mobility scooters for other veterans in need. Some users have noted that the app may be used as a forum for discussing sensitive issues like eldercare and mental health, while others have used it to create their own enterprises.
It was the popularity of TikTok's stars that helped the firm successfully fend off a ban under the Trump administration. They may or may not be as influential this time around.
