India Surprises with TikTok Ban: 200 Million Adapt to Life Without It

Amidst Concerns Over US TikTok Ban, Lessons from India’s Experience Offer Hope

Amidst fears of losing access to TikTok, a beloved social media platform in the United States, there are valuable lessons to glean from a nation on the opposite side of the globe.

Recently, the US House of Representatives approved a bill that signals the potential for a nationwide TikTok ban. While the app, owned by a Chinese company, isn’t disappearing from American phones immediately, its 170 million users in the country are understandably shaken.

However, there’s a silver lining: It’s entirely possible to not only cope but also flourish in a world without TikTok, as demonstrated by the world’s most populous country.

In June 2020, following a fatal clash on the India-China border resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers, the government in New Delhi swiftly banned TikTok along with several other prominent Chinese apps.

In a surprising move, India’s sudden ban on TikTok left its 200 million users reeling. However, over the past four years, numerous users have successfully transitioned to alternative platforms.

American officials and legislators have consistently raised concerns regarding the potential for the Chinese government to coerce TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, into relinquishing data gathered from American users.

According to cybersecurity experts, the national security apprehensions regarding TikTok largely remain theoretical. Conversely, Indian experts argue that its expulsion from the country’s digital landscape hasn’t resulted in a safer cyber environment.

Vivan Sharan, a partner at the Delhi-based tech policy consulting firm Koan Advisory Group, expressed skepticism about the efficacy of removing TikTok in mitigating cybersecurity risks. He stated, “I am not so sure removal of TikTok makes a dent in the cybersecurity threat landscape. Unless there is a step change in user awareness about the software on their phones, or what they download from the open internet, this is unlikely to change.”

Similarly, US lawmakers are concerned about the potential for TikTok to be utilized as a tool by Beijing for disseminating propaganda, misinformation, or influencing American audiences. However, the removal of TikTok hasn’t shielded Indians from similar threats.