On January 19, the day before Trump took office as president, happened to be the final deadline for the so-called ban on TikTok if it did not sell to the United States. It is said that TikTok has over 170 million users in the United States, equivalent to half of the U.S. population. There has been a phenomenon of what is called a “TikTok refugee crisis,” with a large number of American users who may be affected by TikTok turning to download another Chinese app called Xiaohongshu.
In recent days, the download volume of Xiaohongshu has consistently ranked first in the Apple App Store. However, it is well-known that almost all social media platforms in the United States are banned in mainland China. Therefore, the so-called digital battle between the two countries has long been underway.
Independent TV producer Li Jun stated on the New Tang Dynasty’s “Elite Forum” program that there is currently a group of self-proclaimed TikTok “refugees” flocking to Xiaohongshu, causing a 200% increase in Apple App Store downloads. However, issues have arisen as a result. For example, a new user posted pictures similar to the Tank Man from the Tiananmen Square protests, and the account was immediately banned. Additionally, when American and Chinese users interact and discuss topics such as income, accounts have been shut down for various reasons.
Li Jun mentioned that TikTok’s current stance is that they would rather shut down than sell. The U.S. government’s position, including the law, is clear: they can sell, but it must be controlled by Americans. From a purely business perspective, with a platform of 170 million users, selling for tens of billions or even hundreds of billions is possible. Reports from within China indicate that TikTok is ready to shut down the application, which from another perspective, demonstrates that this is not solely a business issue, but a political one.
AI expert Jason stated on the “Elite Forum” that the U.S.’s concerns about TikTok are clearly defined by law in two aspects. Firstly, there are concerns about the privacy and confidentiality of American citizens’ data. Secondly, there are concerns about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party on American society. Both of these concerns are not unfounded.
It is known that TikTok’s parent company is ByteDance in Beijing, and all its technology comes from ByteDance. While it claims to have servers overseas, a TikTok company in the U.S., and employees, it does not deny that its main technical knowledge relies on a Chinese team. The algorithm comes from China, the entire engineering team comes from China, and on several occasions, data has mysteriously ended up in China. Thus, the issue of personal data privacy does indeed exist.
The second aspect is influence. The younger generation relies on social media platforms for information, whether it’s YouTube, short videos, or platforms like Instagram; these have become the primary sources of information for the entire younger generation.
Jason mentioned that the algorithm designed by TikTok is like a drug. Not only children but also he himself found himself spending hours on the app unintentionally, illustrating its addictive nature. Many Americans spend several hours a day on TikTok, becoming addicted to the platform, which can easily influence their decisions.
During the legislative discussion in Congress, TikTok launched a massive phone call campaign targeting all U.S. lawmakers. This organized operation highlights TikTok’s societal influence, which the U.S. is rightfully concerned about. Even though TikTok’s CEO claims to be Singaporean, the founding owner is from China, under complete control of the CCP. Any assertion of being free from CCP influence is simply impossible.
Jason emphasized that for the U.S., understanding the CCP’s stance and ideology is key. The CCP promotes anti-American sentiments domestically through education, which contributes to the concerns in American society. While the U.S. allows negotiation unlike the CCP’s non-negotiable approach, their primary goal is to transfer TikTok’s operations in the U.S. to an American company. Some argue that the U.S. is simply protecting its national interests, as TikTok put itself in a banned position.
Regarding TikTok’s growth, it surpassed $13 billion in revenue in the U.S. in 2023, making it the fastest-growing social media company. However, controversies surrounding TikTok primarily revolve around national security concerns. The future digital battle between China and the U.S., and possibly globally, will continue for an extended period.
As civilizations progress, transitioning from agricultural to industrial to the information economy, we have now entered the information age which is just beginning. Information and technology will shape the future of humanity, impacting spheres like data security and AI development. This generation is witnessing a societal shift, paving the way for a different global operational model in the coming decades.
Jason added that the ideological battle between the CCP and the U.S. revolves around winning hearts and minds not only domestically but globally. While the CCP’s ideology lacks global recognition, they strive to attract people to their cause. TikTok’s claim of having 170 million American users, redirecting to Xiaohongshu, proves to be insignificant in influencing audiences on either side. The apparent growth in Xiaohongshu downloads in the U.S. may be impactful due to its small base in the country.
Ultimately, the battle of ideologies reveals that the CCP’s ideology is not universally accepted, and regardless of the tactics or techniques employed, they are bound to lose the battle for hearts and minds.
This article, sourced from the “Elite Forum” program on New Tang Dynasty, provides an insightful analysis of the ongoing digital battle between China and the U.S., shedding light on the complex dynamics of technological influence and national security in the modern era.