{"id":19048,"date":"2025-01-22T01:30:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T01:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/?p=19048"},"modified":"2025-02-11T01:08:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T01:08:41","slug":"why-israel-wants-tiktok-banned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/au\/society\/why-israel-wants-tiktok-banned\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Israel wants TikTok Banned"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/amp-jwplayer>\n\n\n\n

How Israel FAILED to Ban TikTok in America:<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Battle Over Influence and Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TikTok\u2019s ban in America has been a hot topic, but the truth behind it might surprise you. What if the real reason for the ban had little to do with China and everything to do with another country entirely? This isn\u2019t just a story about spyware, data privacy, or Chinese ownership\u2014it\u2019s a deeper battle over influence, control, and the narratives that shape our world.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From claims of \u201cnational security risks\u201d to accusations of \u201cbrainwashing Americans,\u201d TikTok became a scapegoat in a coordinated effort by powerful lobbying groups desperate to regain control of the narrative. Let\u2019s dive into how Israel\u2019s role in this controversy unfolded and why TikTok\u2019s ban ultimately failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Backstory: TikTok\u2019s Rise and Fall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump declared TikTok\u2019s parent company, ByteDance, a national security threat. This sparked a four-year battle over the app\u2019s future in America. However, after Trump\u2019s departure, President Joe Biden revoked the ban, signaling that TikTok no longer posed a significant threat\u2014or so it seemed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything changed in October 2023. This time, the controversy wasn\u2019t centered around China; it was Israel. TikTok became a lifeline for unfiltered reports from the ground in Gaza, shattering the notion of Israel\u2019s<\/a> \u201cmost moral army in the world.\u201d The app gave millions of people a firsthand look at the realities of the conflict, free from media spin and censorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Numbers Don\u2019t Lie: A Global Shift in Sentiment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The data tells a compelling story. On Instagram<\/a>, there were 5.7 million posts tagged #FreePalestine compared to just 214,000 for #StandWithIsrael. On Facebook, the gap was even wider: 11 million posts for #FreePalestine versus 278,000 for #StandWithIsrael.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But TikTok was where the real seismic shift occurred. Between December 15th and 22nd, 2023, #FreePalestine content exploded, peaking at 82 million views in just one week. In contrast, #IStandWithIsrael barely scraped 2 million views. These numbers aren\u2019t just statistics\u2014they reflect a global shift in public sentiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Backlash: TikTok as a Threat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone was happy about TikTok\u2019s impact<\/a>. Pro-Israel lobbyists and organizations saw the platform as a threat to their narrative. Anthony Goldbloom, a statistician, made a shocking claim: spending just 30 minutes a day on TikTok could make someone 17% more antisemitic. This statistic was even cited during a live primary debate by Nikki Haley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), became one of TikTok\u2019s harshest critics. The ADL, known for its staunch pro-Israel advocacy, accused TikTok of allowing antisemitic content to flourish. However, critics argue that the ADL\u2019s real concern was TikTok\u2019s role in amplifying Palestinian voices and exposing Israel\u2019s actions in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Ban: A Coordinated Effort<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In March 2023, the U.S. government passed the \u201cProtecting Americans from Foreign Adversaries Act,\u201d framing TikTok as a national security threat. The bill accused the platform of \u201cbrainwashing Americans\u201d and harvesting user data. However, critics pointed out that platforms like Facebook and Google have been caught doing the same thing for years\u2014even selling user data to China\u2014yet they faced no such scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill moved through Congress with unprecedented speed, thanks in large part to AIPAC, one of the most powerful pro-Israel lobbying groups in the U.S. AIPAC\u2019s influence in shaping media narratives and maintaining American support for Israel is well-documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Irony: A Swift Ban Amidst National Crises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The speed at which the U.S. government acted to ban TikTok stands in stark contrast to its inaction on other critical issues. School shootings, which have made firearms the leading cause of death among children, and a broken healthcare system that leaves millions without basic care, remain unresolved. Yet, when it came to silencing a platform that mobilized people for real change, the government moved swiftly and decisively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TikTok\u2019s Comeback: A Temporary Victory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TikTok\u2019s ban was short-lived. After going dark for millions of users, the platform announced its return following assurances from President Donald Trump. While the app is back, the battle over its influence is far from over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What We\u2019ve Learned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. The U.S. is Determined to Control the Media Landscape<\/strong>: The TikTok saga highlights the government\u2019s efforts to retain control over the narratives that shape public opinion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Israel\u2019s Role in Shaping U.S. Policy<\/strong>: Pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC played a significant role in pushing for TikTok\u2019s ban, revealing the extent of their influence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Young People Are Changing the Game<\/strong>: Younger generations are no longer relying on traditional media for information. Platforms like TikTok are empowering them to seek unfiltered truths, challenging established narratives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Speed of Action<\/strong>: When it suits their interests, the government can act with remarkable speed\u2014whether it\u2019s banning an app, funding wars, or covering up atrocities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    The Bigger Picture: A Battle for Truth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The TikTok wars may have paused, but they offer a glimpse into a much larger battle for truth in the digital age. As young people increasingly turn to alternative platforms for information, the struggle over who controls the narrative will only intensify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TikTok\u2019s temporary ban was a wake-up call, revealing the lengths to which powerful entities will go to silence dissent. But as the numbers show, the truth has a way of breaking through\u2014no matter how hard they try to suppress it.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    How Israel FAILED to Ban TikTok in America: The Battle Over Influence and Control TikTok\u2019s ban in America has been a hot topic, but the truth behind it might surprise you. What if the real reason for the ban had little to do with China and everything to do with another country entirely? This isn\u2019t […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19050,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow4-bBDA:productID":"","content-type":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[137],"tags":[],"series":[],"speaker":[],"coauthors":[134],"class_list":["post-19048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-society","entry"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Thumnbnail-YT4.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/onepathnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Mums-on-the-RunV3.jpg?fit=2160%2C2160&ssl=1","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":[],"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/onepathnetwork.com\/au\/feed\/podcast\/mums-on-the-run","embedCode":"

    Why Israel wants TikTok Banned<\/a><\/blockquote>