There’s A LOT going on with TikTok right now. We’re going to do our best to keep you up-to-date with the whole thing.
What’s TikTok?
TikTok is a Chinese-owned social media app. It’s been around for years and has a following in the United States and other countries. People use it for fun and branding. Hell, you may very well use it for you cam work!
TikTok, similar to other social media sites, has some privacy issues (we’ve reported on some of those in the past), but if we’re honest, what social media app doesn’t? However, Donald Trump thinks the app’s privacy issues are pretty serious, so he’s trying to force its sale to a US-based company.
Trump vs. TikTok
According to the CNet.com, Trump had vocally denounced TikTok since July when “he said he would take action against the company in response to China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Then, the story changed: “US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said earlier that Trump was considering the ban because the app could make US user data accessible to the Chinese government.”
And finally, “the administration’s focus then turned to forcing a sale of the app to a US company, and Microsoft entered into discussions with ByteDance to purchase part of the business. (Microsoft declined to comment on the executive order.)”
TikTok Fights Back
TikTok is, unsurprisingly, unhappy about the Trump administration’s executive order given on August 6, which would “effectively ban the app unless an American company buys it” and is fighting back against the US government with a lawsuit.
“TikTok’s lawsuit alleges the US government didn’t allow it to respond to the national security concerns cited as the reason for the potential ban,” CNet.com reported. “The company has repeatedly said that it doesn’t share user data with the Chinese government, one of the main concerns brought up by the Trump administration. In the lawsuit, TikTok noted that outside experts have expressed doubts that the government is truly acting out of concerns over access to user data.”
TikTok Sale?
So far, there are a few US companies that are considering a TikTok purchase. As of Thursday, August 27, CNN reported that “Walmart is partnering with Microsoft in an attempt to buy TikTok.” Walmart has expressed that its interest in TikTok is because the app has “integrated e-commerce and advertising capabilities in other markets.” This announcement quickly followed the news that Kevin Mayer, TikTok CEO, has resigned.
A Walmart statement said:
“We believe a potential relationship with TikTok US in partnership with Microsoft could add this key functionality and provide Walmart with an important way for us to reach and serve omnichannel customers as well as grow our third-party marketplace and advertising businesses. We are confident that a Walmart and Microsoft partnership would meet both the expectations of US TikTok users while satisfying the concerns of US government regulators.”
So, that’s where we are at right now. It’s a lot to digest, and we’re certain this whole thing isn’t over yet. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for updates and new TikTok news.
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Abbie Stutzer is a queer, non-binary writer living in Kansas City, MO. You can find them doing witchy stuff at home with their numerous pets or at the local animal shelter saving lives. Contact Stutzer via abbie@ynotcam.com.
Background header image via Unsplash here.
