Zoomer already don't want to join the military to fight in wars, despite crushing student debt. Taking TikTok away from them isn't going to get soldiers for that war against China either.
This is a interesting battle to see. China has always been docile obedient when it comes to US attacks. It has always chosen profit and practicality over dignity.
Practicality will say that it makes no sense to have tik tok banned which means Tik tok loses the US market and probably other western markets too. That will make Bytedance lose all value they have over tik tok in those markets.
But dignity is also stake, Chinese dignity should be triggered that West will force them to sell a global successful social media platform that showed that even non-western non democratic country can be cool, hip and popular and extremely innovative.
Chinese national pride should be hurt if they capitulate and sell instead of getting banned, becoming a martyr and showing the true face of the west to the world.
I really hope China will stop any kind sale of tik tok. But I am afraid China has shown again again that its willing to surrender, when it bent over backward to do a humiliating trade deal with US under Trump, also recent resumption of trade with Australia when it has made no concession and has started to do open war mongering and even have taken steps to acquire nuclear subs, which probably will lead to nuclear weapons too in the future.
China has simply been too weak and too timid against western attacks. Its good that they are pragmatic. But sometimes when the injustice is so great, you need to take a stand just for the morale of the country, even if it is costly.
I hope they make the right choice.
