Preamble:
Looking back in 2024, at the end of June 2020, the Indian government's ban shocked the world. This is not only a ban on 59 Chinese apps such as Tik Tok, but also a major impact on the global Internet ecology. With the fermentation of this incident, the complexity and far-reaching impact behind it have gradually emerged, and it has become the focus of attention of the international community.
Event 1: India bans Tik Tok and other Chinese apps
At the end of June 2020, the Indian government announced a permanent ban on 59 Chinese apps, including Tik Tok, a decision that quickly sparked widespread attention and discussion in the international community. The reasons for bans are mainly focused on data security and privacy protection, but the underlying reasons go far beyond that. With this move, the Indian government hopes to protect the interests of local internet companies and send a tough stance to the outside world. However, the impact of this decision on the global Internet ecosystem is far-reaching.
As a world-renowned short video social platform, Tik Tok has a huge user base and high market penetration in India. The ban not only caused these users to lose an important entertainment and communication platform, but also seriously affected the survival of many creators and businesses who rely on Tik Tok for their livelihoods. More importantly, this incident has intensified the competition and confrontation between China and the United States in the Internet field, posing a challenge to the stability and development of the global Internet ecosystem.
Event 2: The opposition and dilemma of Indian Internet celebrities
After the Indian government banned Tik Tok, many influencers who relied on the platform for their survival fell into trouble. They have expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to this decision. These influencers believe that Tik Tok not only provides them with a stage to showcase their talents and attract fans, but also an important way for them to achieve self-worth and financial independence. The ban caused them to lose their original fan base and social atmosphere, and also lost the opportunity to monetize their short video content.
Faced with a difficult situation, these influencers have to find new outlets and opportunities. They tried to turn to other social media platforms, but found that these platforms had a big gap with Tik Tok in terms of user experience, content quality, and fan base. They also tried to interact with their fans through offline events and other means, but the results were not ideal. In the process, they deeply experienced the fragility and uncertainty of the Internet ecosystem.
Event 3: The rise and challenges of local short video applications in India
After the Indian government banned Tik Tok, local short-form video apps have sprung up in an attempt to fill the gap. Each of these apps has its own unique characteristics, some focus on local culture, some focus on user experience, and some innovate with multiple interactive features. However, the challenges they face are also obvious. With the strong influence of Tik Tok, users are less receptive and sticky to the new platform, which makes it difficult for local apps to attract users.
At the same time, local applications face technical, financial, and operational challenges. Compared with Tik Tok, they have obvious shortcomings in terms of algorithmic recommendations, content moderation, and user services. In addition, as global Internet governance becomes more stringent, local applications also need to comply with stricter regulations and policies, which poses a challenge to their development. Despite some support from the Indian government, more needs to be done for local apps to gain a foothold in the short video market.
Event 4: The regulation and controversy of Tik Tok in the United States
The U.S. government's regulation of Tik Tok has been controversial. On the one hand, the U.S. government believes that Tik Tok may pose a threat to its national security and public order, so it has taken various measures to restrict and suppress it. On the other hand, Tik Tok has a large number of users and fans in the American market, and its influence cannot be ignored. Therefore, the U.S. government is also facing pressure from society and public opinion when it regulates Tik Tok.
In this context, the U.S. government is becoming more and more strict in its regulatory measures for Tik Tok. In addition to restricting its operation and development in the U.S. market, it has also tried to regulate it more strictly through legislation and other means. However, these measures have also sparked widespread controversy and criticism. Some argue that the U.S. government is too sensitive and arbitrary, and does not fully consider the important role of Tik Tok in promoting cultural exchange and disseminating information. At the same time, some experts also pointed out that the U.S. government should adopt a more open and inclusive attitude towards the development of the global Internet.
Editor's spicy comment:
The Tik Tok ban and controversy have shown us the complexity and challenges of global Internet governance. While maintaining national security and public order, governments also need to take into account the development of the Internet and the trend of global interconnection. At the same time, Internet enterprises should also assume more social responsibilities and obligations, strengthen self-discipline and supervision, and jointly maintain a healthy, open and inclusive Internet ecosystem. Only in this way can we better cope with the challenges and opportunities brought by the Internet and promote the progress and development of human society.