Bill Overview
Title: Block the Tok Act
Description: This bill prohibits the social media application TikTok from accessing user data of U.S. citizens from within China, and it requires the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether TikTok has engaged in unfair or deceptive practices. The bill also prohibits the download or use of TikTok at U.S. military installations, at certain federal agencies, and on federal government devices.
Sponsors: Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: TikTok users worldwide
Estimated Size: 150000000
- TikTok has a monthly active user base of over 1 billion people globally as of 2023.
- Approximately 37% of TikTok's global users are located in the U.S.
- The prohibition on accessing user data from within China can affect the privacy and security concerns of TikTok users worldwide.
- The bill impacts both individual users and U.S. federal employees, particularly those associated with military and certain federal agencies.
- TikTok's measures to comply with such legislation would require global changes, impacting users beyond the U.S.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets U.S. TikTok users concerned about data privacy and security by restricting data access from within China.
- The U.S. military and federal employees may directly experience restrictions due to the limitations on app usage at their workplaces.
- Given the popularity of TikTok among teenagers, college students, and young professionals, we must consider a demographic that reflects such diversity.
- We must include users who use TikTok primarily for entertainment, those who use it for business and marketing, and those who express concern over privacy issues.
- A portion of the population, such as older adults or those not using TikTok, will remain unaffected by the policy's implications.
- The distribution of impacts should reflect various levels ranging from none to high, depending on the individual's TikTok engagement and dependency.
Simulated Interviews
College Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the data privacy issues, so I think the policy could be beneficial if it protects our data.
- TikTok is a big part of my daily routine, so any interruption would be upsetting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Marketing Professional (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is critical; personal data security should be a priority.
- It might impact how I reach my audience if TikTok has to limit data access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Federal Employee (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy is necessary to protect sensitive information.
- I don’t use the app personally, so the ban doesn’t affect me directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Content Creator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can complicate my earnings since TikTok is my main platform.
- If it leads to a safer environment, then I'm open to adjustments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Software Developer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Data protection is fundamental. The policy seems well-intended.
- I don’t frequently use TikTok, so I don't think this policy will affect me much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
High School Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial to safeguard our information, especially for younger users like me.
- I might miss some of my daily updates, but it’s for the best if our privacy is secure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m not impacted by the policy personally, but if it protects my grandkids, it's worth it.
- I support actions that ensure privacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Tech Start-up Founder (Seattle, WA)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill might affect marketing strategies crucial for startups like ours.
- Secure data practices are essential though, so it seems reasonable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad actions are being taken to safeguard data.
- I'll miss TikTok at work where Wi-Fi blocks it, but it's not a huge issue.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Military Personnel (Dallas, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've long been aware of the app's potential risks.
- The official ban emphasizes security over convenience, a welcome change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $31000000 (Low: $26000000, High: $41000000)
Year 3: $32000000 (Low: $27000000, High: $42000000)
Year 5: $34000000 (Low: $29000000, High: $44000000)
Year 10: $37000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $48000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Key Considerations
- Establishing effective enforcement mechanisms is crucial to the success of the bill.
- Coordination across various government departments is required to standardize device and network restrictions.
- Public perception and the reaction of TikTok's international user base can influence the policy's broader impact.