While some content creators fear for their future as a TikTok ban looms, others are trying to take the good with the bad, relying on a new trend that mocks the root cause of the ban: security. national.
In a new TikTok trend that some believe could be the last for US users, creators are saying “goodbye” to their “Chinese spies”. The trend is a sign of why the legislation implementing the ban was implemented, as some US government officials fear that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, is sharing US user data with the Chinese government.
President Joe Biden signed the law last spring requiring Beijing-based ByteDance to sell TikTok by Sunday, January 19. If the company fails to do so, TikTok will be banned in the US, making it illegal for US web hosting services and app stores to distribute the platform.
Here’s a look at how some TikTok users are participating in the trend.
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TikTokers participate in perhaps the last trend, before the ban
In one of the most-viewed videos, part of the trend, TikTok user yanxiao1003 “acts” as a spy, telling viewers it’s been “a great honor to spy on you for the past few years.” It also sheds light on the idea that companies that intercept user data know the users they “spy on.”
“Now it’s personal. Laura from California, you shouldn’t drink so much Coca-Cola. It’s bad for your health,” user yanxiao1003 said in the video. “And also Peter from New York, your (mother) loves you. You don’t have to treat her like that, okay?”
As of Wednesday afternoon, yanxiao1003’s video had more than 20.8 million views.
In a video posted by TikToker jennabrigid, the user appears to be holding back tears to Gracie Abrams’ song, “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” The caption of the video on the screen reads: “When I’m sad, I say goodbye to my Chinese spy on TikTok” on my fyp (For You Page) which means they put it on my fyp. I’ll miss you too. As of Wednesday afternoon, the video had more than 290,000 views.
TikTok’s About You page is a unique part of its algorithm. The personalized feed recommends videos to users based on their interests and preferences.
Some trending video clips feature popular movie clips in which characters are separated from each other. A video posted by TikTok user eliologies features the scene from the 2017 romantic drama “Call Me by Your Name” when the characters Ello (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) embrace for the last time at the train station.
The video posted by eliologies features the caption on the screen, “What will it be like to say goodbye to my Chinese spy on January 18 at 11:59pm”
Another video, posted by TikTok user bebo02783, shows Master Oogway saying goodbye to Master Shifu in “Kung Fu Panda” with the caption on the screen, “Final goodbye to my Chinese spy. He gave me a perfect fyp (page for you).” The video had over 14,000 views, as of Wednesday.
Some TikTok users have even gone so far as to make custom t-shirts that read, “I (heart) my Chinese spy.”
What is the fate of TikTok?
If ByteDance fails to sell TikTok before Sunday, the platform will become unavailable in the US
US users who have the platform already downloaded on mobile devices will still be able to use it, but software updates will become unavailable, rendering the app unusable over time.
Several people, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and YouTuber MrBeast, have expressed interest in buying the platform.
As part of the Project Liberty organization, Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Kevin O’Leary, the host of “Shark Tank,” reportedly made an offer to ByteDance to buy the platform’s US assets last week. Liberty Project President Tomicah Tillemann said in a statement that the organization would not publicly disclose the amount of the bid.
President-elect Donald Trump has previously supported a ban on TikTok, but recently asked the US Supreme Court to halt the ban, giving him time to “save” the platform for Americans.
Last Friday, SCOTUS heard oral arguments from TikTok, which claims the ban violates America’s First Amendment rights. As of Wednesday afternoon, SCOTUS had not announced a decision.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
