A TikTok star with 1.1 million followers has spoken out in favor of a US ban on the popular app after becoming alarmed at how the algorithm now presents him with more and more content. more disturbing.
The House passed legislation on Saturday that would ban TikTok in the United States if the Chinese owner of the popular social media platform does not sell its stake within a year.
Comedian Zach Sage Fox said he could see the benefits of a ban after becoming concerned about the platform’s impact, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I’m terrified by what I see on TIkTok,” Fox told the New York Post.
“In recent months, when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite all the biggest sources of disinformation, TikTok is just a gold mine,” he said.
Comedian Zach Sage Fox says he supports banning TikTok due to the platform’s role in spreading misinformation on sensitive topics like the Israel-Gaza conflict
“In recent months, when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite all the biggest sources of disinformation, TikTok is just a gold mine,” Fox said.
The House passed a bill to ban TikTok amid concerns about hate speech and misinformation, with even support from some TikTok content creators.
“It seems like there’s something going on in the algorithm that’s really trying to smear the West.”
Fox’s concerns are shared by US policy circles who have expressed alarm over TikTok’s popularity among young people, alleging it allows Beijing to spy on users.
It has 170 million in the United States alone, and 76% of Generation Z admit to using the app.
Critics also claim that TikTok is subservient to Beijing and constitutes a propaganda channel. China and the company deny these claims.
“I think the glass is half full, millions of young people are cut off from information coming from China and will turn to sources that, even if they are not perfect, will at least have some oversight on a factual level,” Fox said.
The bill that could lead to a total ban on TikTok in the United States passed by a vote of 360 to 58, with broad bipartisan support.
The measure could now trigger the rare measure of banning a company from operating in the U.S. market and will now go to the Senate for a vote next week.
The bill that could lead to a total ban on TikTok in the United States passed by a vote of 360 to 58, with broad bipartisan support. President Mike Johnson speaks to members of the press after the bills passed the House of Representatives
The TikTok measure was part of a broader package of foreign aid legislation that the House passed Saturday afternoon, totaling $95 billion for U.S. partners abroad.
The total plan provides $26 billion to Israel, $60.8 billion to Ukraine and $8 billion to the Indo-Pacific through a combination of military and humanitarian aid.
President Joe Biden said he would sign the bill. He reiterated his concerns about TikTok during a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month.
TikTok quickly complained after Saturday’s vote, saying in a statement that “it is regrettable that the House of Representatives is using the cover of significant foreign and humanitarian aid to once again pass an emergency bill.” “ban that would trample on the free speech rights of 170 million Americans.” devastating 7 million businesses and shutting down a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy each year.
Under the bill, ByteDance would have to sell the app within a year or be kicked out of Apple and Google’s app stores in the United States.
The House of Representatives approved a similar bill to crack down on TikTok last month, but the measure was delayed in the Senate.
“It seems like there’s something going on in the algorithm that’s really trying to smear the West,” TikTok content creator Zach Fox said.
TikTok content creator Zach Sage Fox is pictured with New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Steven Mnuchin, who served as U.S. Treasury secretary under former President Donald Trump, has expressed interest in acquiring TikTok and has assembled a group of investors.
TikTok has been in the crosshairs of US authorities for years, with officials saying the platform allows Beijing to spy on users in the United States.
But a law banning it could trigger lawsuits. This bill gives the US president the power to designate other applications as a threat to national security if they are controlled by a country deemed hostile.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, spoke out against banning TikTok on Friday, saying it goes against free speech.
“TikTok should not be banned in the United States, even if such a ban could benefit Platform X,” Musk said in a post on the social network he acquired in 2022.
“This would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression,” Musk said.
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