The TikTok Dilemma: Politics, Privacy, and Culture

This chapter examines the impacts of the Smith-Munn Modernization Act on USAID operations and the current polarized political landscape, particularly in relation to TikTok's recent app store reinstatement. It critiques TikTok's data privacy issues, ideological influence, and cultural implications while highlighting the contrasting accountability measures for ByteDance and American tech companies. The discussion further navigates the role of TikTok's algorithms in shaping user experience and the contentious dialogue surrounding its ownership and regulatory favoritism.