After TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled by the Home Vitality and Commerce Committee on Thursday, the platform’s customers shared their assist the best way they know finest — by means of thirsty fan edits.
A number of representatives introduced up complaints from their constituents bemoaning TikTok’s destructive affect, however Chew insisted most customers have optimistic experiences on the app. Customers made movies affirming this and criticizing lawmakers for his or her lack of tech literacy and unfair questioning.
Some took their love a step additional by creating fan edits of the CEO, maybe one of many highest types of acknowledgement amongst TikTok customers. They paired the movies with captions praising his testimony.
“Can we speak about how laborious he’s working for us to stop the ban,” learn the caption of one in style edit with 1.3 million views.
“If TikTok is dangerous, why is he advantageous???” one other consumer stated in a video about Chew.
TikTok didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
In a TikTok posted Friday morning, Chew thanked customers for his or her assist and reiterated the app’s dedication to defending the 150 million People that use the platform. He doubled down on TikTok’s efforts defending teenagers, storing American knowledge on U.S. soil, sustaining freedom of expression on the platform and utilizing third-parties to make sure transparency.
Chew confronted skepticism from the committee as he tried to handle members’ considerations over knowledge privateness, protections for kids and TikTok’s connection to the Chinese language Communist Occasion. Regardless of his efforts, committee members frequently reduce off his solutions and expressed their dissatisfaction.
Below Chew’s replace following the listening to, customers continued to share their love for the app and anger towards the committee. The video had over 40,000 feedback as of Friday morning, most of them optimistic.
“You have been so wonderful. I’m so upset in our authorities. You deserve higher, we deserve higher,” one particular person wrote.
“We’re sorry our Congress is embarrassing. We love you and TikTok,” one other stated.
“Love this app. I’ve realized so many cool and helpful issues and about different cultures,” a consumer commented.
Gen Z activists have beforehand stated {that a} TikTok ban can be “a slap within the face” to younger voters. A current ballot additionally discovered that Gen Z oppose a TikTok ban by a margin of 53% to 34%.