TikTok Ban: The Fracturing of American Exceptionalism Propaganda.

The TikTok ban was included in a “must-pass” humanitarian aid package under the Protecting Americans Against Foreign Adversaries Owning Applications Act. It was never debated on the congressional floor. There is no evidence that TikTok interfered in elections or posed any national security threat to Americans. The so-called “evidence” shared with Congress was never disclosed to the public. When pressed for details, Congress members could only reference hypothetical risks—risks that any social media platform could theoretically pose. From this, it’s clear that no concrete wrongdoing occurred, and fear-mongering has taken center stage. This approach mirrors the Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) strategy that Microsoft once used against open-source software like Linux—until Bill Gates’ leadership ended.

TikTok has addressed the security concerns raised by Congress. Its U.S. headquarters has been in Santa Monica since 2017, with current U.S. operations based in Texas and Virginia, overseen by Larry Ellison, the head of Oracle. Four out of ByteDance’s five board members are American. When Americans create TikTok accounts using U.S. phone numbers, they are placed in the American instance of the app. What more could be demanded? Fireworks and apple pie?

Security researchers, including Citizen Lab and Mysk, have analyzed TikTok’s data collection practices and found it collects less data than other social media platforms. I’ve conducted my own investigations in a lab and confirmed this as well. The primary issue isn’t security—it’s xenophobia.

In response to the ban, TikTok creators migrated to Xiaohongshu, an app whose name references the Communist Manifesto (“Little Red Book”). The app’s servers are in China, and it is entirely Chinese-owned. When creators began using the platform in early 2025, they experienced a stark realization: much of what they had been told about China was a lie. They saw affordable housing, accessible transportation, universal healthcare, and a mandatory retirement age of 60 supported by government pensions. How does this align with the supposed “evil” we were warned about? Chinese users on the platform even asked how they could assist Americans.

This was a wake-up call, shattering the illusion of American exceptionalism. We’ve been led to believe we are free because we can voice opinions, protected under the First Amendment. But what freedom is there when our voices fall on deaf ears in a government that neither represents us nor cares for us?

What other lies have we been told? Has everything been a lie? I’ve often told my family and friends that America doesn’t feel American unless it feels like a scam. My ancestors fled colonized Ireland and Nazi Germany seeking a better life, only to find themselves once again at the mercy of predatory systems. The same seems true today. Even if I were to leave America, I’d still be taxed unless I renounced my citizenship.

I was promised that if I followed the rules, earned good grades, went to college, worked hard, and climbed the corporate ladder, I’d have a good life. I did all of that. I even adhered to strict religious beliefs that denied me real joy. Now, I see the average Chinese citizen enjoying the promises I was sold while my own country moves the goalposts every year. This is not okay.

Someone will probably dismiss this as a manifesto rather than recognizing it as a plea for help—a call for radical change to improve the lives of average Americans.

I believe every American feels the tension of culture, race, or class warfare. I believe everyone one of us is upset with our own government. What is your story? How do you feel about this?