On March 14th, the US House of Representatives passed a TikTok bill, demanding that ByteDance relinquish control of TikTok, or face a ban in the United States. Since former US President Trump attempted to ban this popular short video app through executive orders in 2020, TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have faced relentless pressure.
For American employees who have been working at TikTok and ByteDance for a long time, this ongoing assault has gradually become like the boy crying "wolf" in Aesop's fable. Despite the common rhetoric of "banning TikTok", no legislation has yet been implemented to remove the app from the US market.
A TikTok employee who preferred to remain anonymous shared, "I've been working here for several years, witnessing various threats and rumors come and go." The employee expressed, "These haven't substantially impacted my daily work, but they do serve as distractions, like a dark cloud looming overhead."
The employee also stated that they've become "numb" to the constant threats. Other employees also feel that there hasn't been a significant change in the company's internal atmosphere.
"The vibe at TikTok remains the same," another employee disclosed. "While there are some concerns, I believe most of us have adapted to this state of affairs."
Even if the bill passed by the House eventually becomes law, TikTok employees still have reason to believe that its impact won't be long-lasting.
For example, a TikTok ban introduced in Montana in 2023 was ultimately rejected for violating the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Thus, TikTok's fate in 2025 remains uncertain.
For many TikTok and ByteDance employees, it's increasingly difficult to discern which threats are real and which are merely intimidation. They are busy with their daily tasks and have no time to worry about the empty rhetoric from the US government. Some also indicate that their concern for TikTok's future is primarily tied to their livelihoods.
"For me and my team, we're too busy to ponder these issues," a third employee remarked regarding the House's bill. "Employees are more focused on job security. We hope the internal team at the company can fight against it to ensure our positions are secure."
Another employee emphasized that keeping their job is paramount, especially given the current state of the tech industry where job-hopping isn't advisable.
The third employee added that TikTok's popularity in the US might also help it evade government intervention. The company stated that TikTok has over 170 million monthly active users in the US.
"If they really ban TikTok, it's foreseeable that the approval rating of the US Congress will further decline," the employees commented.
TikTok did not respond to requests for comment.
Regarding the vote results in the US House on Wednesday, TikTok stated in a public statement, "The only reason the bill was quickly passed is because it is essentially a ban. We hope the Senate can act based on facts, listen to the voices of voters, and truly consider the impact this will have on the economy, 7 million small business owners, and the 170 million Americans who use our service."
