America’s TikTok Addiction Isn’t Just China’s Fault
Beijing won’t say yes to a TikTok divestment. Washington should admit it’s as much about a lack of tech innovation as it is about national security.
Ticktock for TikTok in the US.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThere are few things that can get both the American left and right as exercised as the idea that a foreign nation is perverting the minds of their young. When that country is China, the full force of the US political system weighs in. That has resulted in the unanimous approval of a bill that would stop internet service providers and app stores from offering TikTok to consumers, unless the social media firm’s Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd. sells it within six months.
The Energy and Commerce Committee voted to approve the bipartisan legislation, known as the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, by 50-0. It is expected to go to a full House floor vote next week. While there are legitimate reasons to be concerned about the impact of a foreign-owned social-media platform beloved by so many young Americans, it’s time for a little honesty and self-reflection. The US TikTok addiction isn’t just a Chinese problem. Homegrown tech has failed to keep up with the kind of innovation that Chinese firms have developed, and that’s why this app has become so popular. Forcing it to sever its mainland links will not solve that, especially as Beijing is unlikely to agree. It has already voiced strong opposition to the idea before.