TikTok has introduced that it has 150 million lively customers within the U.S., up 50 % from 100 million customers in August 2020.
Privateness issues pushed by TikTok proprietor ByteDance’s connections to the Chinese language authorities have made it a political punching bag, with jabs coming from each Republican and Democratic lawmakers, in addition to President Biden.
The brand new 150 million milestone underscores how a lot is at stake for TikTok, its customers, and U.S. politicians as CEO Shou Zi Chew prepares to look Thursday earlier than Home Vitality and Commerce Committee as a part of a listening to titled “TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Knowledge Privateness and Defend Kids from On-line Harms.”
With issues and bans rising globally, Chew will seem earlier than the committee to testify on TikTok’s client privateness and information safety practices, the platforms’ impression on youthful customers, and its relationship with the Chinese language authorities and Communist Social gathering.
“People need to know the extent to which their privateness is jeopardized and their information is manipulated by ByteDance-owned TikTok’s relationship with China,” stated Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) in a press release saying the listening to.
TikTok mobilzers influencers to battle again
In an effort to battle a compelled sale or full U.S. ban, TiikTok has organized dozens of influencers to journey to Washington, DC, this week to protest and unfold the phrase on-line. TikTok is reportedly protecting their bills and organizing a press convention.
“Lawmakers in Washington debating TikTok ought to hear firsthand from folks whose lives can be straight affected by their selections,” TikTok spokesperson Jamal Brown instructed Politico. “We stay up for welcoming our creators to our nation’s capital, serving to them make their voices heard, and persevering with to drive significant impression of their lives and for his or her communities.”
Hundreds extra TikTok influencers are anticipated to hitch the protest on-line.
How To Watch
Thursday, March 23, 2023
TIME: 10:00 AM ET LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing
The listening to will probably be open to the general public and press and will probably be live-streamed on-line at https://energycommerce.home.gov/.
MORE – 4 issues to DO NOW earlier than TikTok is banned: The Breadcrumb Technique
Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Company, and a professor for the Berklee School Of Music.
