A bill was passed in the US Congress on the 20th that compels ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to sell its US operations to an American company within a year. It is reported that the bill, which stipulates that ByteDance must sell its TikTok service within the US within 270 days, passed the main session with 360 votes in favor and 58 against. TikTok has protested against the bill, claiming that it is effectively a TikTok ban because it is difficult to finalize a sale within the deadline.
Concerns have been consistently raised within the US political circles and intelligence agencies that the Chinese government could access user data within the US, posing a threat to national security. In response, TikTok has sent notifications to its estimated 170 million US users, requesting them to appeal to Congress. The notification included a feature that allows users to search for their representative's number by entering their zip code. Subsequently, it is reported that as many as 20 calls per minute were made, and some congressional offices temporarily shut down their phone lines.
Despite the cited reason of national security, why are so many Americans actively voicing their opposition to a potential TikTok ban? This demonstrates that TikTok has become an integral part of American culture and serves as an example of how to recognize the cultural significance and power within a society.
In an article published on the 18th, the New York Times featured 19 TikTok-related articles highlighting 19 ways this single app has transformed American culture. This includes changes in Hollywood's film marketing strategies, a resurgence of content from conspiracy theorists, and the removal of bathroom mirrors as a deterrent for teenagers who frequently disappear during class due to their TikTok use. It clearly illustrates the presence of TikTok in various cultural shifts, both big and small, across society.
TikTok's algorithm learns users' interests and preferences in real-time, resulting in ordinary videos garnering millions of views. This has led to the creation of a new type of influencer, the so-called "micro-celebrity," who gains prominence within a short period due to a specific topic of interest. Moreover, songs that originated on TikTok have topped the charts, transforming the music industry's success formula, which now necessitates the creation of challenge videos for viral promotion. Recently, Taylor Swift made a bold decision to post her new song on TikTok, a platform where she ended her contract with Universal Music Group due to low royalty payments. This change is possible because TikTok's rapid content cycle and algorithm have accelerated the trend cycle within American society and reshaped the flow of American culture.
From the perspective of this cultural takeover, the US Congress's forced sale of TikTok is essentially a failed attempt. Historically, cultural invasion has had a significant impact on society. The Roman Empire, through military conquest, introduced Roman law, technology, and infrastructure, transforming local cultures. Nazi Germany sought to erase regional history and individual identities by destroying cultural heritage.
Culture already exists. Therefore, contrary to the US Congress's expectations, the enforcement of this TikTok ban bill is unlikely to yield significant benefits. TikTok has successfully brought key roles in various fields of American society, including music, entertainment, marketing, politics, and fashion, into its platform. Consequently, the signs held by American citizens opposing the TikTok ban often feature words like 'keep,' 'grow,' 'business,' 'life,' and 'change,' which evoke notions of maintaining and thriving in life.
In essence, Americans should have first asked themselves, "What is TikTok?"
I understand that regulations are being implemented for major platform companies in Korea, such as Naver and Kakao. Considering that these services have a significant impact on users' daily lives and culture, it seems necessary to examine the cultural influence in addition to a market-centric perspective when detailing the regulations.
Margaret Mead, considered a great anthropologist of the 20th century, described that "understanding and respecting culture is a prerequisite for social change and peaceful coexistence." The debate surrounding this TikTok ban bill provides insights for Korea on how to approach the interplay between platforms and culture.
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