TikTok, the popular app where people share short videos, is facing a big challenge in the United States. The government wants to ban it, and things are getting serious.
A new law was just approved by the House of Representatives. It includes a rule to ban TikTok in the US. This rule got support from both Democrats and Republicans, with 360 votes in favor and only 58 against. President Biden has said he’ll sign the ban if it reaches his desk. But first, the Senate needs to vote on it.
TikTok isn’t going down without a fight. They’re ready to go to court if needed. They argue that banning TikTok goes against Americans’ right to free speech, especially since 170 million Americans use the app.
The main concern is that TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. Some worry this could be a security risk because it means a company from a country with a complicated relationship with the US could have access to Americans’ data.
TikTok became hugely popular in the last few years, especially during the pandemic. It’s now competing with big social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. But unlike those, TikTok isn’t based in the US, which has raised concerns.
We’ll find out soon if the Senate agrees to ban TikTok. If they do and President Biden signs it, TikTok will have nine months to either sell the app or leave the US market.
