Legislation Passing and Reactions
As Congress voted Tuesday night on legislation that could ban TikTok, Americans were posting their real-time reactions on the embattled video-sharing app. The Senate passed a revised TikTok bill, tied to a package to provide aid for Israel and Ukraine, with a 79-18 vote, and President Biden signed it into law Wednesday. It will force TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app to an American entity within 12 months or face a ban in the United States. The House passed the bill on Saturday with a 360-to-58 vote.
Lawmakers’ Perspectives
Representative Ro Khanna: A California Democrat representing Silicon Valley, had been a vocal opponent of the bill. He shared his opposition through videos posted on TikTok before and after the House vote. Mr. Khanna has been outspoken against a sweeping ban on TikTok, and has met with people who create content for TikTok to understand their concerns. “I voted no today on the bill to ban TikTok because it hurts the free speech of creators, activists, organizers, and small business owners who rely on the app to have their voices heard,” Mr. Khanna said in a statement following the House’s vote. He added his support for a new law that would give users more control of their data.
Representative Jamaal Bowman: A New York Democrat, was another opponent of the bill and previously said that banning TikTok meant silencing the voices of young people. In a two-and-a-half-minute video on Saturday, he called for comprehensive social media reform instead of singling out TikTok.
Content Creators and Users’ Opinions
Various content creators and TikTok users have expressed mixed reactions to the passing of the legislation. Some are concerned about the potential impact on their ability to create and share content freely, while others support the move as a means to protect user data and national security. The debate among users continues as they await further developments regarding the future of TikTok in the U.S.
