Why the TikTok Ban Makes Chinese Americans Feel Singled Out

Many Chinese Americans view the 2024 TikTok ban as discriminatory, connecting it to identity, geopolitics, and systemic prejudice. With over two billion users worldwide and 170 million users in the U.S. alone, TikTok's cultural significance is undeniable. The U.S. government's decision, citing national security concerns, has sparked controversy, resonating within the Chinese American community as another instance of racial scapegoating rooted in historical bias and geopolitical tensions. Now with the reaffirmation of the Supreme Court, TikTok is to be banned in 2 days. This article examines their perspective and how the ban intersects with broader issues of race, identity, and U.S. politics.

As with other social media platforms, TikTok’s rise to prominence has been controversial. Serious concerns include privacy violations, mental health issues due to addictive features, the spread of misinformation and fake news from poor content moderation, algorithm bias with limited transparency, exploitation of creators and users, cyberbullying, and harmful impacts on vulnerable groups like children and minorities. While these platforms provide clear benefits, their darker implications, such as data misuse and disinformation, are increasingly shaping global political responses. For example, in November 2024, Australia banned social media platforms for children and teens under the age of 16.? While this Australian action impacts multiple platforms, the passing of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in the United States, set forth in April 2024, bans just one company - TikTok.? However, the TikTok ban is primarily framed around national security concerns rather than these broader platform issues. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, and there is an unproven fear that China may be able to access its data. Banning TikTok is controversial, and there are many arguments for and against the ban. This article provides the perspective of the Chinese American community, and in short, this community feels unfairly singled out. This sentiment stems from historical prejudices, geopolitical tensions, and the broader discourse surrounding race and identity in the United States.

Historical Context of Chinese American Marginalization

To understand why the TikTok ban resonates so deeply within the Chinese American community, it is essential to examine the historical context of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the widespread fear of Japanese economic invasion in the 1980s, Asian communities have often been scapegoated during periods of geopolitical tension. Asian Americans have long been perceived as 'perpetual foreigners,' irrespective of their time in the U.S. or their level of societal integration. This backdrop of historical discrimination primes many Chinese Americans to view the TikTok ban as another instance of unfair targeting. Although the stated rationale for the ban revolves around national security concerns, the focus on a Chinese-owned company reinforces the stereotype of Chinese Americans as inherently connected to China, and by extension, its government. This framing undermines the multifaceted identities of Chinese Americans and casts doubt on their loyalty to the United States.

Geopolitical Tensions and Their Domestic Impact

The intensifying rivalry between the United States and China has fostered an atmosphere of heightened suspicion and geopolitical tension. Trade disputes, allegations of intellectual property theft, cybersecurity breaches, and concerns over China's growing influence in global technology have fueled anti-China rhetoric in American political and social discourse. While these tensions are primarily governmental, their ripple effects often spill over into the lives of Chinese Americans, casting them as unintended proxies in a larger geopolitical struggle.

The TikTok ban is emblematic of this dynamic. Critics of the platform argue that ByteDance’s ownership poses a national security risk, suggesting that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. While national security concerns may justify examination, the overarching narrative frequently conflates legitimate issues with xenophobic undertones. Many Chinese Americans feel that the focus on TikTok has less to do with the above-board concerns such as disinformation, and more to do with perpetuating a narrative of mistrust toward anything linked to China. This perception is amplified when other non-Chinese-owned tech platforms with significant privacy issues and disinformation, such as Meta and X, face comparatively less scrutiny. This is especially egregious as Meta just announced getting rid of its fact-checking program, following the footstep of X.?The spread of disinformation will surely increase.

Racialized Scapegoating and the Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype

Chinese Americans have long contended with the 'perpetual foreigner' stereotype, which presumes alignment with China over the U.S., irrespective of generational roots or cultural integration. This stereotype surfaces in subtle yet pervasive ways, such as being asked, 'Where are you really from?'—a question that underscores otherness, as well as in overt acts of discrimination and violence, such as the spike in anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The TikTok ban reinforces this stereotype by suggesting that anything Chinese is inherently untrustworthy or dangerous.

For Chinese Americans, this narrative can feel deeply personal. Many are U.S. citizens who have no direct ties to China, yet they find themselves caught in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions. Portraying TikTok as a 'threat' due to its Chinese ownership raises troubling questions about how loyalty and trustworthiness are assigned to Chinese Americans. If a platform's origin is enough to cast doubt on its integrity, what does that imply about people of Chinese descent?

In addition, there is a growing concern with political exploitation. Politicians’ willingness to sidestep the First Amendment, to avoid addressing the most serious concerns facing other social media platforms, and to outlaw an entity without providing any actual evidence is a gross violation of its founding principles. When the TikTok ban goes in effect on January 19, 2025, ti could be seen as a significant instance of political scapegoating and inconsistent enforcement.

Cultural and Generational Disconnects

The TikTok controversy also highlights cultural and generational divides within the Chinese American community. For younger Chinese Americans, TikTok is more than a digital platform. It is a central hub for creativity, connection, and self-expression. To them, the ban represents an assault on their cultural identity and the freedom to express themselves in digital spaces. It is not just a policy decision; it is a signal that something they cherish is being singled out because of its perceived association with their Chinese heritage.

For older generations, the TikTok ban may evoke memories of past discrimination and exclusion. They may see parallels between the current climate and earlier periods when Chinese Americans were viewed with suspicion and treated as second-class citizens. These intergenerational experiences heighten feelings of alienation and reaffirm the belief that Chinese Americans are disproportionately targeted.

Intersection of Technology, Identity, and Politics

The TikTok ban also raises broader questions about the intersection of technology, identity, and politics. In an increasingly digital world, platforms like TikTok are not just tools for entertainment; they are spaces where identities are formed, communities are built, and cultural narratives are shaped. For Chinese Americans, TikTok has become a space to showcase their culture, challenge stereotypes, and connect with a global audience. Losing this platform is perceived as the silencing of a vital avenue for cultural representation and community connection in the digital age.

Moreover, the debate around TikTok is inherently political. The ban has been championed by politicians who frame it as a necessary step to protect American interests, but the underlying rhetoric often veers into xenophobia. Chinese Americans keenly recognize this dynamic, interpreting the ban as part of a broader trend where China is scapegoated for domestic challenges.?

Worse, TikTok, in an effort to be more transparent and accountable, has spent $1.5 billion in Project Texas to securly house the U.S. data at an Oracle data center in Austin, Texas. Yet, other social media giants have data centers around the world. Meta, for example, has data centers in five countries, and one of them is in Singapore, a country in which its government asserts the right to access the data even if the data is in transit.

The Broader Implications for Chinese American and Asian American Identities

The TikTok ban is not an isolated incident; it is part of a broader context in which Chinese Americans are grappling with their place in American society. The surge in anti-Asian sentiment, exacerbated by the pandemic and geopolitical strife, has fostered a pervasive climate of fear and insecurity. For many Chinese Americans, the TikTok controversy feels like another instance where their loyalty and identity are called into question. This sense of alienation is compounded by the lack of nuanced public discourse. Discussions about the TikTok ban often reduce complex issues to simplistic binaries, ignoring the lived experiences of Chinese Americans. This erasure of nuance perpetuates stereotypes and deepens divisions, making it harder for Chinese Americans to feel fully accepted in their own country.

Furthermore, because Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans often share similar physical features, the ripple effects of this discrimination extend across the broader Asian American community. The numerous incidents of anti-Asian hate since the COVID-19 pandemic have had a profound and indiscriminate impact on Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

?

Conclusion

The singling out of TikTok has become a flash point for larger issues surrounding race, identity, fairness, and geopolitics in the United States. For Chinese Americans, it represents more than just a policy decision; it is a reflection of deep-seated prejudices and historical patterns of exclusion. Addressing these concerns requires a commitment to nuanced, inclusive discourse that recognizes the complexities of identity and the shared humanity of all Americans. Bridging these divides requires society to engage in informed, empathetic dialogue that confronts biases and embraces inclusivity.

On a related note…

I recently had an interview with New Zealand TV, and we had an interview. You can view it here: https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/01/13/concern-about-racial-undertones-of-looming-us-tiktok-ban/?