American uproar as TikTok faces potential nationwide ban
Recently, information circulating on the internet has caused a significant controversy among American TikTok users. As of January 19, the US government plans to ban the use of the app in the country. Internet users are protesting and are rapidly creating accounts on other Chinese platforms, one of which is RedNote. How does the app work?
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19, 2025. The US government fears that Chinese authorities might force access to user data or influence content published on the app. The app's management argues there is no evidence of such actions, and measures like storing data on servers in the United States are intended to ensure safety.
Will TikTok disappear from the American market?
Both TikTok and many users claim that the law violates rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including freedom of speech. The app's lawyers emphasize that shutting down the platform would affect millions of people who use it for work, entertainment, or communication. Additionally, for many creators, the app has become their main source of income, and its disappearance would have significant social and economic consequences.
Currently, the government's final decision is not known. Although Donald Trump, the President-elect, is appealing to the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of the law, the details remain unclear. Furthermore, he claims his administration may find a compromise solution to the issue. He also believes that his negotiation experience and electoral mandate will enable him to resolve this matter without the need to remove TikTok from the American market.
Americans move to RedNote
American TikTokers and internet users are outraged at the prospect of the app disappearing from their country. As part of the protest, many have started installing another Chinese app, RedNote. This alternative platform operates very similarly to TikTok. Until now, it primarily functioned in the Asian market, but it is currently the most downloaded app across the United States.
Americans switching to this Chinese platform call themselves "refugees" from TikTok. To further express their discontent with the government, they are also massively deleting accounts on Meta apps such as Instagram and Facebook.
