TikTok, the wildly popular mobile viral video platform, has launched an offensive to stop Congress from enacting “Total ban on TikTok“.
U.S. users of TikTok, which has more than 170 million monthly active users, received a pop-up message on Thursday urging them to call their congressional representatives to voice their opposition to a bill to ban the app in the United States.
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It seems these popups work. Congress was bombarded with calls from TikTok users of all ages defending their favorite social media platform.
“The kids did tell our office that they called earlier today during recess,” a congressional staffer told Mashable. The staffer requested anonymity because they were communicating with the media through unofficial channels without permission.
While the demographic of callers may be younger than usual, TikTok users of all ages responded to TikTok’s calls to action.
“This is terrible. Our phones have been ringing off the hook,” a Republican staffer said in a report. Politico. “They’re teenagers and seniors and they say they use the app all day long and we can’t take that away.”
One staff member told the media that their office received more than 1,000 calls specifically related to the TikTok bill.
However, while Politico’s report focused on Republicans, Mashable’s sources stressed that congressional Democrats are also listening to TikTok users. “This is true for everyone,” the congressional staffer told Mashable, adding, “The vast majority of these calls are from children.”
Bill to ban TikTok
TikTok is using its powerful influence to rally users against proposed bill Banning Chinese apps in the US
The bipartisan bill hasn’t yet gone to a vote, but it just passed house energy and commerce committee The legislation advanced in a unanimous vote.
TikTok supporters believe the bill will not ban TikTok outright.The bill gives the company the option of being sold by Chinese parent ByteDance — what Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., a co-sponsor of the bill defines as an “asset divestiture” — or Banned from U.S. app stores
White House recently with sound It supports a bill that would ban TikTok but has stopped short of endorsing it.Still, it’s an interesting move from President Joe Biden, who just join in The platform last month exclusively targeted young voters.
Someone tried prohibit TikTok under the Trump administration, but those plans seemed to fizzle out in a short time.However, in response to data and privacy concerns, TikTok did take partnership Cooperation with Oracle Corporation of the United States.
Now that legislation has been revived against the company, TikTok is taking action with the help of its users. Will representatives consider appealing to voters who support their favorite apps? That remains to be seen more broadly, but the House Energy and Commerce Committee certainly wasn’t swayed today.
While TikTok may have succeeded in rallying its own troops, one source told Politico that the calls could be “counterproductive.” The lines were so long that some Republican members of Congress were “enraged” and are now leaning toward supporting the bill.