A Few Thoughts on the Impending TikTok Ban
The sins of TikTok are not unique to TikTok
This morning I’ve written an article for Mere Orthodoxy sharing my thoughts on the impending TikTok ban. Below is a bit of a preview, and you can read the full piece here.
The United States is set to ban TikTok over the weekend. Since exploding in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic, TikTok’s role in internet culture and broader American culture has only grown. With it, so have concerns about data privacy and cultural subversion by the Chinese government, whom many fear may have access to American data through the app and intentionally undermine Americans through TikTok’s world-class algorithm and the content it delivers to users.
I have mixed feelings about the ban.
On the one hand, yes, TikTok should probably be banned. Though its leadership has repeated on several occasions that American user data is not housed in China or accessible by its leaders, it’s hard to imagine that TikTok leadership wouldn’t give in to demands the Chinese government may make at any time to access American user data in a way that may be harmful to national security.
Frankly, in my view, the more urgent threat of TikTok is as a sort of cultural Trojan horse of the Chinese government. The cultural degradation and mental health impacts of TikTok are well-established, and the Chinese version of the app is notably less harmful, suggesting China has intentionally given Americans a more addictive version of the platform. On top of this, Americans’ trust of their government and its leaders is at virtually the lowest its ever been, and in the wake of the impending ban, American TikTok users have started learning Mandarin at record rates (according to Duolingo), and downloading other Chinese social media apps in spite.
the king is back!
The TikTok Ban: A Psychological Power Play
Donald Trump’s handling of the TikTok ban is a textbook example of psychological manipulation targeting Gen Z. Here’s how the strategy worked:
1. Manufactured Crisis
By framing TikTok as a national security threat, Trump exploited the illusory truth effect—repeating a claim until it felt true. Targeting TikTok, a Gen Z cultural hub, triggered reactance psychology, where restrictions fuel rebellion, making his eventual reversal more impactful.
2. Perception of Power
Trump’s decision to lift the ban created the illusion he was more powerful than Congress. This leveraged the halo effect, positioning him as an independent disruptor, resonating with Gen Z’s distrust of traditional institutions.
3. Oversimplified Narratives
The ban boiled down to “Trump vs. Congress,” exploiting Gen Z’s reliance on quick, surface-level content. This relied on heuristics—mental shortcuts that simplified the issue, obscuring the deeper manipulation at play.
Takeaway for Gen Z
Trump’s TikTok manoeuvre reveals how easily emotional triggers and oversimplified narratives can be used to manipulate even the most skeptical generation. The solution? Stay critical, dig deeper, and question who benefits from the spectacle.
GQ