Communist Chinese government-tied TikTok is becoming even more invasive with a new campaign to bring its content into restaurants, theaters, and more.
TikTok proudly announced its creepy new effort to make its content effectively unavoidable in “everyday life” in an Oct. 17 press statement. “We're excited to introduce Out of Phone, our out-of-home solution that lets partners and brands leverage TikTok content beyond the platform, bringing it into the real world through screens on billboards and kiosks and in cinemas, bars, restaurants, automobiles, airports, gas stations, retail stores, and more,” the announcement declared.
Experts told MRC Free Speech America in March that TikTok poses a serious national security risk in light of its sordid record of exploiting user data and having ties with the communist leaders in Beijing. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr called for TikTok to be banned altogether.
Brands can now “amplify” their TikTok campaigns onto billboards, the app explained. At the movies? Expect “the pre-show with a segment of TikTok's top content.” TikTok “launched in a variety of venues and spaces including bars, restaurants, airports, gas stations, and retail stores, with bespoke partnerships that bring the joy of TikTok to the masses.” The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) owns a board seat and maintains a financial stake in TikTok’s parent company ByteDance.
TikTok Global Head of Distribution, New Screens Dan Page is practically gleeful, though. “With Out of Phone, we're taking TikTok beyond the palm of our hands and into everyday life,” he declared. Talk about terrifying.
The app regularly censors free speech. For instance, MRC Free Speech America found 11 pro-life organizations “permanently banned” by TikTok in Sept. 2022. Most recently, TikTok boasted of removing 500,000 videos related to the Hamas-Israel conflict.
TikTok is not available in China, and its Chinese counterpart app Douyin is drastically different. Young Chinese users are automatically restricted to a certain amount of time on Douyin, and the app feeds users educational, inspirational content. In contrast, TikTok’s algorithm is designed to feed frivolous and toxic content to young people. If TikTok’s campaign proves successful, the app will be inundating Americans with its wild content wherever they go.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact TikTok via email at communitymanager@tiktok.com and demand Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment and provide transparency. If you have been censored, contact us at the Media Research Center contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
