The embattled social media company brought out the checkbook to ensure at least 30 of its biggest assets—creators—were in DC to help fend off critics.
, “a Black and queer-owned boutique creative communications agency,” to help retell its story. Hence, the company spending lavishly this week to ensure its best assets—its diverse group of creators—get private face time with Washington power brokers before members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee accused Chew of being an operative for Chinese communists.
At TikTok’s press conference yesterday, the enthusiasm emanating from the crowd of more than 140 people was tangible; influencer stories were deeply personal. After a brutal month for the beleaguered tech firm, all the cheering and sign-waving for Yu and other speakers, including three sympathetic Democratic lawmakers, made it seem like TikTok had finally turned the tide and gotten organic momentum on its side.
The tech company isn’t just throwing money at its image problems. It also announced new safety features ahead of today’s hearing, including acquiescing to pressure to drastically limit the time children are allowed to spend on the app daily, from unlimited to 60 minutes. It also enjoyed some lawmakers speaking in support of TikTok. Advocates for the app say it’s no more a threat to America’s children than, say, when Facebook allegedly buried research showing Instagram was a health risk to children, according to“My question is, why the hysteria and the panic and the targeting of TikTok?” Congressman Jamaal Bowman asked yesterday’s crowd. “As we know, Republicans, in particular, have been sounding the alarm creating a red scare around China.
But it’s not just Republicans calling for a TikTok crackdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has spoken out against the app, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appointed Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois—one of TikTok’s loudest foes in the Capitol—as the top Democrat on Republicans’ new, high-profile select committee on China.
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