TikTok CEO SHO Chu recently spoke at a congressional hearing, where lawmakers from both sides of the aisle criticized the platform for being at the center of all things wrong with society and our kids. While national security concerns were also raised, Chu’s responses highlighted the lack of understanding of the already existing government oversight provided by US company Oracle, which stores TikTok’s data.

What wasn’t discussed was the need to re-evaluate the US’s social media regulations. Social media platforms are undoubtedly influential, and many lawmakers believe they should be regulated to prevent the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and harmful content. However, the way these regulations are currently being approached is misguided.

One of the unique features of TikTok is that it motivates users with positive content and experiences without triggering them into rage and division like other social media platforms. In contrast, platforms like Twitter and Facebook depend on anger and division as a backbone to their business and revenue models.

Furthermore, while lawmakers criticized TikTok for being a Chinese-owned company, they overlooked the fact that the US government already has oversight of the company’s data through Oracle. Oracle’s involvement in storing data for other companies, such as Netflix, LinkedIn, and Intel, was also not discussed.

The issue at hand is not TikTok, but rather the public’s ability to communicate freely and quickly outside of standard media and government controls. Social media platforms provide a unique opportunity for people to have their voices heard by those in power, which has never been possible before.

Lawmakers need to acknowledge the benefits of this kind of communication and work on regulations that support and encourage positive interactions, rather than just trying to restrict or censor them.

In conclusion, the congressional hearing with TikTok CEO SHO Chu was a missed opportunity to discuss the importance of social media regulation in the US. Instead of focusing on the supposed dangers of TikTok, lawmakers should have discussed how to regulate social media in a way that supports free and positive communication, while still preventing the spread of misinformation and harmful content. Social media is a powerful tool, and it’s time for the US government to recognize its potential and work towards creating regulations that maximize its benefits while minimizing its negative impact.

---

If you enjoyed reading this blog post and found it informative, we kindly ask that you consider leaving us a comment below and liking and sharing it with your friends and family. By doing so, you’ll be helping us reach a wider audience and spreading valuable information to those who may find it helpful. Additionally, your support means a lot to us, and it motivates us to continue creating high-quality content that you’ll enjoy. So, thank you for taking the time to read our blog, and we hope to see you again soon!

Readers: Note that the email address and logging in prompts do appear for comments on this blog, but providing an email address and logging in are not required.