America is concerned about social media. China is, too
Most Chinese get their news from such platforms. The Communist Party is paying attention
THERE SEEMS to be no end to official anxiety over social media in America. The idea that TikTok, a popular Chinese app, might be used as a tool of Communist Party propaganda has terrified politicians. On March 13th the House of Representatives passed a bill that would force the platform’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app or else face a ban in America. Five days later the Supreme Court heard a case over the Biden administration’s requests that social-media companies remove posts containing misinformation. Both stories speak to the power of these firms, which play an enormous role in disseminating news and guiding opinions.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Clicks and control”
From the March 23rd 2024 edition
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