Lawmakers have come under fire from young people on social media for their lack of knowledge of TikTok—and the internet in general—during a hearing that could lead to a ban of the social media platform.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew for almost five hours over safety and security concerns associated with the platform.
However, the hearing revealed some congressional members were not familiar with the app.
North Carolina Republican Representative Richard Hudson asked Chew if TikTok accessed the home WiFi network, to which Chew replied it only did so if the user turned on WiFi.
You can watch their interaction in the video below.
Republican Georgia Representative Buddy Carter also asked whether TikTok collects biometric data, to which Chew responded it did not but explained it needed to know where people's eyes are to place filters correctly.
Carter then asked:
"Why do you need to know where the eyes are if you’re not seeing if they’re dilated?”
You can see that moment in the video below.
Following the hearing, young people took to social media to express frustration at the congressional members' lack of knowledge of TikTok.
The congressional hearing was part of a proposed TikTok ban due to its ties to China and potential harm to children.
Lawmakers are growing increasingly concerned China could be spying on Americans by collecting large amounts of data through TikTok. Several states have already banned government employees from downloading the app on their phones.
The hearing highlighted the generational gap between lawmakers and young people. As TikTok continues to grow in popularity among younger generations, it is crucial for lawmakers to become more familiar with the app and its potential risks.
The hearing also emphasized the need for continued efforts to protect users' privacy and security on social media platforms.
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