Don’t Ban TikTok, Put It on Probation
On issue after issue, the US needs to start accepting “good enough” solutions to its problems with China.
Flashpoint.
Photographer: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Before US-China relations turned completely antagonistic, few could have imagined one of their major duels would involve a social media app featuring 60-second videos of dancing pets and illusionists performing tricks. How the US ultimately deals with TikTok, though, could well determine if it can manage the rivalry with China without sacrificing its principles or sliding into conflict.
A new Senate bill introduced on Tuesday would make it much easier for the US government to ban the app, which is owned by privately held Chinese tech giant ByteDance Ltd. House Republicans have already initiated their own legislation. More than half of US states have banned or restricted the use of TikTok on government-issued devices.