TikTok, the immensely popular short-form video app, has taken the unprecedented step of directly mobilizing its American user base to oppose the potential U.S. ban. On Friday, the platform displayed a notification to some users in the United States, urging them to contact their senators and voice their opposition to a recently passed bill that could potentially lead to TikTok’s forced divestment or outright prohibition within the country.
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TikTok Rallies Users to Oppose Potential U.S. Ban
The notification, which appeared when certain users opened the app or searched for information related to the proposed ban, carried a sense of urgency and rallying call. “Tell your Senator how important TikTok is to you. Ask them to vote no on the TikTok ban,” it implored, providing users with a convenient tool to locate and call their respective senators’ offices.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by the notification’s warning: “Now, if the Senate votes, the future of creativity and communities you love on TikTok could be shut down.” This direct appeal to TikTok’s dedicated user base came on the heels of the U.S. House of Representatives’ overwhelming vote on Wednesday to pass a bill that would grant ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, a six-month window to divest its U.S. assets or face a nationwide ban.
While the White House and President Joe Biden have expressed support for swift action on the matter, TikTok appears determined to fight back. “We’ll continue informing our community about how the ban bill will affect them and what they can do to make their voices heard,” a TikTok spokesperson stated, confirming that the alert was specifically targeted at users of voting age.
This proactive approach mirrors TikTok’s pre-emptive efforts ahead of the House vote, when it warned users that “the government will take away the community that you and millions of other Americans love.” As lawmakers reported being inundated with calls from concerned TikTok users opposing the legislation, it became clear that the platform was not going to quietly accept its potential demise in the U.S. market.
