India Bans Chinese Apps Including TikTok
In response to a border conflict that took place earlier this month.
India has banned nearly 60 Chinese apps, including TikTok, in response to a violent conflict that took place earlier this month at the border of the two Asian countries. The move comes as a blow to scores of TikTok users in India, where the app has been downloaded over 610 millions times.
As revealed in a report by Business Insider, more than ten of TikTok’s 40 most popular accounts come from India. For some, the app represents a viable opportunity to achieve status and build a career from virtually nothing. The New York Times interviewed one Indian TikTok user who revealed, “There is a ripple effect in TikTok. Boys from small villages become overnight heroes. It changed their lives.” Another user commended the platform for its acceptance of male belly dancers, male makeup artists and gay couples.
Despite the popularity of TikTok in India, the country’s government — which has long clashed with that of China — sees the ban as a way to stunt the growth of Chinese social networking companies, which India believes are stealing citizens’ data.
It remains unclear when India’s ban on TikTok will take effect. As of June 30, some users in India were still able to download the app.
