Capitol Hill is awash in TikTok creators fighting over the app

There was a surge of influencers and creators from both sides of the online culture wars. They came to Capitol Hill for a blockbuster House committee hearing with TikTok CEO.

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In a press conference on Wednesday outside the Capitol, Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Robert Garcia (D-CA) were joined by TikTok creators, artists, small business owners, educators, parents, and advocates to discuss why they value the app and to cast doubt on the justifications for outlawing it.

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Bipartisan calls for the app's banning have been prompted by worries about the Chinese company that owns it and its effects on minors.

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The millions of other communities that I know TikTok has helped develop, as well as the people who have found a safe place to express themselves through this platform, would be devastated by a ban on TikTok, according to Jason Linton, a TikTok creator who chronicles his family's journey through foster care and adoption.

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Linton added, "I'm telling our politicians: don't take away the community we've all formed. A community that makes you laugh, love, and support one another like no other. Without taking away something so precious to all of us, we can resolve the problems.

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Callie Goodwin, the owner of greeting card company Sparks of Joy, said 95 percent of her orders come from TikTok followers.

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A TikTok ban, according to her, "wouldn't just put my business in jeopardy; it would also mean that 95% of my income would vanish overnight, along with this huge community of producers and customers that I have developed on the platform."

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Later in the press conference, Bowman attacked Republicans, saying they wanted to outlaw TikTok because they lacked "swag."

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Republicans want to outlaw TikTok because, according to Bowman, they "ain't got no swag." "The problem is that Republicans don't have any swag."

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On Wednesday, there were many TikTokers in the Capitol making videos for their apps, some with more somber themes than others.

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Meanwhile, the Heritage Foundation held a press conference the next day at the same spot outside the Capitol in support of a TikTok ban. Chaya Raichik, the founder of the right-wing account Libs of TikTok, spoke at the event and said the app hosts "groomers and predators."

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Raichik added that her account, which is used for sharing and making fun of pro-LGBT content, will still be active even if the app is taken down because she posts spotlights and anti-liberal comments from other sources.

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"My account is not concerning to me. Our kids are what I'm worried about," she remarked.

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Bowman's remark about having "swag" was made by Robby Starbuck, a former congressional candidate and music video director who has developed a sizable conservative online following.

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"Maybe we need more representatives in Congress; they should be more concerned with safeguarding our nation and children than appearing cool on TikTok. We got here because of that kind of immaturity," Starbuck added.

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Shou Chew, the CEO of TikTok, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday while competing press conferences occurred.

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He was questioned by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on issues related to privacy, data sharing, and national security.

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Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) remarked at the hearing, "You damn well know that you cannot protect the data and security of this committee or the 150 million users of your app because it is an extension of the CCP."

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Bowman, though, raised concerns about other social media platforms during Wednesday's news conference and questioned "the hysteria, the panic, and the targeting of TikTok."

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According to him, TikTok poses a similar threat to national security as do businesses like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter in terms of its behavior. "Let's not denigrate and disparage TikTok, then."

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Because "American firms have done significant harm to American people," he cautioned against mentioning TikTok in a "dishonest conversation" or displaying xenophobia.

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Bowman urged lawmakers to have a "complete dialogue" about laws that would guarantee the security of social media platforms and the confidentiality of user data.

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Since COVID, there has been an increase in xenophobia. "Let's have a larger, more honest discourse about social media, and let's not demonize TikTok because they happen to be owned by a Chinese business," he said. "Let's have a serious discussion."

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 "There is a serious issue, and we ought to be dealing with it," Pocan declared. "And it also includes TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms about our data, our privacy with regard to our data, selling our data, and enabling misinformation," the statement continued. “But, when people say they want TikTok banned, it is not the issue they are trying to solve.”

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In a press conference on Thursday, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) floated the idea of an imaginary app called AmeriTok to pressure China to support individual rights, capitalism, gun ownership, and "responsible premium cigar smoking"—a reference to his love of cigars and his habit of carrying a lit one outside the Capitol.

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“If I delivered this to [Chinese President] Xi Jinping, what do you think he would say or do? Do you believe he would introduce this and declare it a brilliant idea? Nehls said, "Definitely not. That will not take place. So why on earth do we let it happen here?"

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"Our number one enemy, China, is invading our children's minds with terrible ideals," stated Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.).

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Bowman responded, "Personally, I don't trust anybody," when asked if he believed TikTok when it claimed it does not share American users' data with the Chinese government.

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"I once again don't believe American social media corporations when they claim not to do something. I'm hoping to have a wider discussion. Can we not talk about everything as a single unit and have such a narrow perspective?" he continued.