TikTok has revolutionized information dissemination, challenging the narrative control of traditional US media. The portrayal of China on TikTok starkly contrasts with the image presented by mainstream American media, influencing both US-China policy and global public opinion. Since entering the US market, TikTok has been viewed as a major threat by American social media platforms like Meta. The launch of TikTok Shop has further fueled its commercial expansion in the US, directly competing with established e-commerce platforms such as Amazon. The US crackdown on TikTok aims to control information flow and platform economies, thereby maintaining its global dominance.
The US suppression of TikTok fundamentally reflects anxieties surrounding the decline of American hegemony and the rise of China. While US politicians utilize TikTok to engage with young voters and shape public opinion, they simultaneously advocate for its ban – a contradiction of the freedom and openness the US consistently champions. The US has long promoted market economies and fair competition; however, the proposed legislation targeting TikTok undermines the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans and deprives the right of 5 million small businesses to use the platform of a vital tool for growth and job creation.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called the ban on TikTok a “major blow to freedom of expression online,” which sets a dangerous precedent for internet governance in the international community. “The government cannot shut down an entire communications platform unless it poses extremely serious and imminent harm, and there’s no evidence of that here,” said the ACLU. The US is abusing the “national security” excuse to engage in “coercive deals” and “forced transactions,” gravely undermining market principles and international rules. This is an extreme escalation of the US hegemonic mindset.
