Tik Tok Ban
Critical Analysis
Based on the visual above, what percent of Americans support the government banning TikTok?
Based on the visual above, how does age impact support for the government banning TikTok?
Based on the visual above, how does age party affiliation impact support for the government banning TikTok?
Based on the visual above, what factor most strongly correlates to opposition to a government TikTok ban?
Explain whether you support the government banning TikTok.
Last week, TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew's was called before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. There, U.S. lawmakers battered TikTok's CEO about potential Chinese influence over the platform and said its short videos were damaging children's mental health, reflecting bipartisan concerns about the app's power over Americans. How does this event illustrate Congress’s oversight powers.
The TikTok hearing may also have created a new group of lobbyists. ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, flew out more than 30 famous TikTokkers to Washington to advocate for the app, the New York Times reported. Explain how this illustrates the impact of money in politics.
Recently, a number of members of congress at a tik tok hearing refered to Tik Tok at Tic Tac - the It’s no surprise when members of Congress, who are famously out of touch when it comes to how the internet works, barely seem to understand some of the technical questions they’re asking, let alone the answers. At least three different representatives in the hearing called the app “Tic Tac,” which is a breath mint. One clip that has been widely circulating on the app is one of US Rep. Richard Hudson, who represents North Carolina’s 9th district, questioning Chew on how WiFi connectivity works. “So if I have a TikTok app on my phone and my phone is on my home WiFi network,” Hudson asked, “does TikTok access that network?” “Does TikTok access my battery to steal my electricity?” one user said, mocking Hudson. Users are also posting POV’s on the app, reenacting their own versions of the hearing. “What color is the algorithm?” said user Christian Divyne in a video mocking some of the questions Congress members asked Chew. The video ended up getting over one million views, with over 250,000 likes as of this writing. In all seriousness, some TikTok users have pointed out that people with no understanding of technology should not be regulating it. Make a claim explaining whether the democratic process helps or hinders the regulation of technology.
Let’s say that the U.S. government decided to ban TikTok. What Amendment of the U.S. Constitution might a lawyer representing Tik Tok cite as a defense for why they should not be help liable for the thefts.
Based on the data from the visual above and your knowledge of American politics, make a claim explaining why there has been bipartisan (across party line) agreement on the banning of Tik Tok.
Learning Extension
Listen to this short NPR story about the constitutionality of a Tik Tok ban.
Action Extension
Contact President Joe Biden and tell him what he should do about Tik Tok.
Visual Extension
@trifoliumgirl Neal Dunn calls TikTok Tic tac during the hearing of TikTok's CEO Mr. Shou Chew. People laugh in reaction. Compares TikTok to cancer. #tictac #mrshouchew #shouchew #shouchewhearing #tiktoksenate #mrdunntictac #nealdunntictac #tiktoktictac #callingtiktoktictac ♬ original sound - TrifoliumGirl
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