> U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that TikTok threatens national security because the Chinese government could use it as a vehicle to spy on Americans or covertly influence the U.S. public by amplifying or suppressing certain content.
In other words, US officials are scared that China is going to do what the USA has been doing with American social media apps in various countries
And if the U.S. does ban TikTok then it sets a precedent that other countries can ban U.S. and Chinese social media apps in the same manner. Europe for example.
Yes, and? It's naive to think that this is anything new or surprising -- a country attempting to further it's own interests ahead of other countries that it is competing with.
Americans usually whined and complained that China banned US social media
Also, American social media companies and all others need far more regulation. But that is really a separate topic.
If russia were to try to buy meta, that deal should be blocked. If china were to try to buy meta that deal should be blocked.