Washington, D.C. – Congressional offices in the United States are experiencing a flood of calls from TikTok users concerned about potential legislation that could result in the popular app being banned. The calls, ranging from teenagers to the elderly, reflect confusion among users prompted by TikTok’s messaging.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have noted that TikTok’s mobilization efforts to rally users against the legislation have seemingly backfired. Instead of quelling concerns about the app and its parent company, ByteDance, the aggressive lobbying campaign has strengthened lawmakers’ resolve to push through the proposed legislation.
The bipartisan bill, backed by 20 lawmakers, mandates that ByteDance must sell TikTok within six months to avoid removal from U.S. mobile app stores. The legislation has seen swift progress in Congress, receiving unanimous approval from a key committee, and is expected to go to a full house vote with President Joe Biden ready to sign it into law.
Despite TikTok’s last-minute push to mobilize users against the bill, lawmakers remain steadfast in their support. The app’s tactics have drawn criticism, with some offices reporting receiving hundreds of calls, including concerning messages from vulnerable school-aged children and extreme rhetoric.
Lawmakers, long suspicious of ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and the potential risks posed by TikTok, continue to highlight concerns over privacy and mental health. TikTok, boasting a user base of over 170 million in the U.S., and ByteDance deny these claims.
Efforts by TikTok to influence lawmakers have not swayed their determination to address the perceived threats. Despite continuous calls flooding into congressional offices, key figures remain resolute in their stance on the legislation, viewing TikTok’s actions as confirmation of the need for stricter measures.
The situation underscores the power social media platforms wield and the challenges of balancing commercial interests with national security and public health concerns. As the debate over TikTok’s future in the U.S. intensifies, the involvement of everyday users in this political process highlights the impact of digital platforms on legislative decisions.