Introduction
The aim to ban TikTok in the US has sparked contrasting reactions and has generated both supporting and non-supporting media coverage. The differences in responses can be observed concerning the public’s reaction to the news about banning TikTok. The paper exemplifies how the UK’s lack of public outrage differs from the USA’s protests against the measure.
Media Coverage in the USA and UK
The USA’s aim to ban TikTok has generated media coverage both in favor and against the decision. An example is the conservative news outlet Fox News. The platform has published an article highlighting the TikTok ban as a positive reaction to safety risks. The outlet urges parents to talk to children and minimize their presence in the Chinese app (Komando, 2023).
The article does not provide counter-arguments or appeal to people who support and are against the ban. To a certain extent, such an approach to journalism is facilitated by the fact that Fox News is a conservative platform. The left-leaning liberal platform MSNBC, on the other hand, urges legislators to regulate TikTok, criticizing the ban (Aleem, 2023). Hence, the reactions within the country differ from one another.
Regarding media coverage outside the USA, the UK is an example of how outlets portray the topic. BBC UK has published an article on Montana’s TikTok ban, which does not solely include government devices but also implies that TikTok will not be available to be downloaded by people who do not have the app installed on their smartphones (Clayton & Liang, 2023). The piece provides information on the security threats generated by TikTok’s policy to share data with Chinese authorities on request. However, the article also covers the opposing viewpoint, emphasizing the public concern over the right to speech infringement. In this case, the article’s content is less biased as the platform solely illustrates the news rather than seeks to impact its audience.
Reaction and Movements
The public’s reaction to the TikTok ban differs depending on the country where the news publications are published. The Guardian highlights that both left-leaning politicians and specific individuals are willing to protest the ban and put efforts toward having access to the app (Paul, 2023). At the same time, the reaction is different in the UK. It is essential to point out that the UK has not tried to ban the app for most users and has only restricted it to government platforms.
Nonetheless, publications mention that the public is aware of the US initiatives and is worried that similar agendas will appear in national legislation (Purves, 2023). Even though concerns have been expressed, no protests were organized compared to the situation in the USA. The difference may be that the US ban is more widespread and can affect many people compared to the effect on UK government officials who cannot use the app on state devices.
Similarities and Differences
The concern over the TikTok ban shares similarities and differences between US and UK media consumers. On the one hand, many Americans see the ban as beneficial due to the threats that the Chinese government imposes by having access to user data (Clayton & Liang, 2023). On the other hand, despite the lack of media coverage of UK citizens agreeing with the ban, no outrage was observed when the app was restricted from being downloaded or used on government devices. The same measure was implemented in the US before Montana opted for a more widely spread limitation.
On the other hand, outrage has been observed both in terms of US and UK media consumers. Although the UK has yet to ban the app, the US example has facilitated an understanding of the existing possibilities, which is a worry Purves, 2023). As highlighted before, the US public has similarly been divided between supporting and not supporting the decision. Such similarities and differences correlate with the fact that various local and international outlets have different agendas for providing information to consumers.
Conclusion
As per the example of USA and UK media coverage, the TikTok ban has sparked various opinions. It has been observed that in the country where the ban is more of a threat, the USA, media coverage is more persuasive than informational. In the UK, however, the news is being portrayed more objectively. Simultaneously, opposing opinions can be illustrated in both cases, depending on which platforms audiences use regarding the latest news.
References
Aleem, Z. (2023). Don’t ban TikTok. Regulate IT – aggressively. MSNBC. Web.
Clayton, J., & Liang, A. (2023). Tiktok: Montana to become first US state to ban app on personal devices. BBC News. Web.
Komando, K. (2023). Tiktok’s dark side: Why it’s more than just a fun app and you need to remove it. Fox News. Web.
Paul, K. (2023). US moves forward plan to Ban Tiktok as AOC joins protests supporting App. The Guardian. Web.
Purves, R. (2023). UK TikTok users share concerns as US state places ban on App. WalesOnline. Web.