It seems like everyone is on TikTok these days. More than 3 billion people have downloaded the short-form video sharing app as of 2023. And TikTok boasts 1 billion monthly active users — more than Twitter, Telegram, Reddit, Pinterest, and Snapchat. TikTok users watch more than 1 billion videos on the app every day.
TikTok’s extreme popularity has been troubling some politicians. The platform has been under scrutiny in the U.S. before, when former president Trump tried to ban it. And now a new batch of politicians are pushing the Biden administration to ban the app among government employees and schools — mainly out of fear that the Chinese government could be using the app to access American users’ data. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to testify before a House panel on March 23 about the app’s security, privacy practices, and ties to China.
In part 1 of this Startup Insider episode, Allison Brickell and Vin Narayanan discuss why some folks in Congress are rallying against the app, how TikTok can play a role in the rapid spread of disinformation and propaganda, and more. Stay tuned for part 2 of this discussion next week!
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