The Biden administration is considering banning TikTok in the United States if the platform’s parent company, ByteDance, doesn’t sell it. The news arrives amidst growing concerns over national security and Chinese espionage tactics, particularly in light of the “spy balloon” that was shot down off the American east coast in February.

ByteDance is a Chinese company, and as such, is subject to disclose its information to the Chinese Communist Party. Today, more than half of American states have placed bans on state-issued devices out of privacy and security concerns. Texas representative Paul Michael McCaul said,

TikTok is a modern-day Trojan horse of the [Chinese Communist Party], used to surveil and exploit Americans’ personal information. It’s a spy baloon for your phone.

Biden admin mulling TikTok ban if Chinese parent company doesn’t divest (msn.com)

Spokespeople for TikTok think such claims are exaggerated, but coming from within the company, their pushback isn’t surprising.

Besides national security and data protection concerns, many have argued that the addictiveness of TikTok alone justifies its restriction. The app is wildly popular, out-competing rivals like Instagram and Snapchat, and like other social media platforms, is finely tuned to keep users captivated and scrolling for as long as possible.

Whether it’s a covert tool of espionage or simply a manic source of dopamine overload or both, the clock might be ticking for TikTok. The CBS report, quoted above, also noted that TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before the House Energy and Commerce committee.

For further reading:

Will TikTok Handicap an Entire Generation? | Mind Matters

Girl Tragically Dies After Doing Horrific TikTok Challenge | Mind Matters

No More TikTok for State Agencies in Texas | Mind Matters