Beyond Translations

Many people remember last January, when it was reported that the popular social media app TikTok was going to be banned in the United States. While the ban did not ultimately happen (although the app did voluntarily go offline for some time), it served as a highlight of the concerns the United States government has about the potential of the Chinese government being able to access American user data. 

At the recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the issue of TikTok was back on the table. Supposedly the deal that Trump and Xi agreed to includes TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance (a Chinese company), selling up to 80% of its stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations to new owners. This transaction would involve new investors taking over the operations and have American companies, such as Oracle, be in charge of overseeing data security. 

In addition to changing the ownership of the company, the deal also includes provisions which will allow the U.S. to monitor and reprogram TikTok’s algorithm, in order to guarantee it is free from Chinese government manipulation. This comes from the fear that if TikTok in the U.S. is controlled by a Chinese company, the Chinese government could use it as a platform to spread propaganda and promote discord amongst the American people. 

So, what does it all mean for TikTok? Having the majority of the ownership be changed, six out of the seven board seats will now be held by Americans. This could lead to the company making more U.S. centered decisions, such as expanding its operations in America, and opening up more job opportunities in the computer science field. However, the new deal will also have some negative repercussions. Some claim that as a result of the new deal fans of international creators may not be able to access their content, and similarly, creators hoping to create a global audience may have a tougher time reaching international viewers. Also, with U.S. control over TikTok’s algorithm many speculate the app may become a platform for politically biased content to prosper. TikTok creator and journalist Jonathan Katz voiced his concern about this issue claiming that if the deal goes through he believes over time the app will morph into an “increasingly hostile environment”, especially for those who do not have right-wing beliefs, as many of the new owners are allies of Trump and his MAGA movement. 

The deal is expected to be finalized at the start of 2026, and until then TikTok remains under its current status. What will TikTok be like after the deal goes into effect? We cannot know for sure, however, we do know that it will certainly be different. This whole issue raises the question of the importance of trust between nations. Many fear that putting TikTok under U.S. control poses a major threat to global connectivity and opens the door for political manipulation of media. However, the deal could be in the best interest of the American people, if the security concerns are legitimate. This whole issue could be solved by a better relationship between these two nations. Understanding ultimately leads to better trust. If these two countries trusted each other, there would be no need for this deal, and global connection would prosper. 

Despite the current status of the relationship between China and the United States, there is hope for improvement. After the meeting between Trump and Xi, it seems that economic conflicts between the two nations will be resolved and tensions will be eased, with Xi claiming that the relationship between the countries is currently “stable on the whole”. Ultimately though, improving any relationship requires time and effort. Taking the time to learn more about each other will certainly lead to a better connection and relationship in the future. That is the mission of Beyond Translations, to lead the way in paving a better relationship between these two countries, in order to have a better future for all.