The TikTok ban, first proposed by the Trump administration in 2020, wasn’t solely about national security or data privacy—it was a political move designed to divert attention from more pressing issues. Framed as a necessity to protect U.S. sovereignty from Chinese surveillance, critics argued the ban was a calculated strategy to control the narrative and distract from critical concerns affecting millions of Americans.
Distraction from Key Issues
While the TikTok debate took center stage, other significant issues were pushed to the background. One of the most impactful outcomes of Trump’s policies was the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, leading to severe abortion restrictions in more than 20 states by 2024 and leaving millions of women without access to essential healthcare.
Trump’s immigration policies also sparked fear and uncertainty amongst immigrant communities. His executive orders ramped up I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) deportations, with nearly 1,000 people arrested in a 2019 Mississippi operation and over 250,000 people deported that year. At the same time, his rollback of civil rights protections, including weakening the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Act, made it harder for marginalized groups, like women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and racial minorities, to combat workplace discrimination. Around 25% of LGBTQ+ workers report facing discrimination in the workplace a year.
TikTok Ban as a National Security Tactic
Framed as a national security imperative, the TikTok ban was first presented as a necessary measure to prevent U.S. data from being compromised by Chinese ownership. However, critics contend that it was more about silencing political expression, particularly among younger generations. TikTok has become a platform for political education and activism, with Gen Z using it to engage with issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict, racial justice, and climate action. Rather than focusing on national security, the ban sought to suppress a platform that had become crucial for political mobilization.
Trump’s efforts extended beyond TikTok that the majority of the public eye did not see. For instance, his rollback of the Clean Power Plan, which aimed to limit carbon emissions from power plants, worsened the climate crisis by allowing industries to pollute more freely, undermining efforts to combat climate change.
Gen Z’s Political Mobilization
Instead of stifling Gen Z’s activism, the TikTok ban fueled it. Young activists already using the platform to advocate for climate change, racial justice, and gender equality have amplified their efforts. TikTok became a key tool for grassroots organizing, where users raised awareness about ignored issues, like climate change, and fostered discussions on the Palestine-Israel conflict. The platform was also pivotal during the Black Lives Matter movement, enabling users to organize protests, amplify marginalized voices and spread information about police brutality—issues that directly challenged Trump’s policies.
A Dangerous Precedent for Censorship
The TikTok ban set a troubling precedent for government censorship, raising questions about the extent to which the government could limit access to information under the guise of national security. The idea of banning an entire platform to control discourse undermines the fundamental right to free speech. Instead of focusing on restricting platforms for political expression, the government should address the real issues that affect people’s lives—issues far more pressing than a social media app.
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