The conflict between the US and China appears to be continuing unabated, with many apps and social networks withdrawing from major markets such as Hong Kong. TikTok was the first to leave. The hugely popular app among young people withdrew in protest against the national security law imposed on the semi-autonomous region by Beijing.
This move is particularly significant when you consider that TikTok, which belongs to the China-based ByteDance group, has more than 800 million users worldwide (according to DataReportal figures as of January).
A spokesperson for the company said: «In light of recent events, we have decided to stop operating the TikTok app in Hong Kong». These remarks were reinforced by the US State Department, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirming that the government was considering banning Chinese social media platforms. The platform has previously been forced to defend its ties with China, where it operates a similar app under a different name.
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