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Soulja Boy Campaigns To Buy TikTok, Condemning Potential Ban in U.S.

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Atari Shuts Down Claims That Soulja Boy Is The First Rapper To Own Video Game Company

Soulja Boy is never shy about his contributions to the proliferation of artists on social media, as one of the first to adopt YouTube as a promotional tool. So it’s no surprise that the rapper turned entrepreneur is campaigning for TikTok not to be banned. In fact, he self-declared himself as TikTok’s best chance to stay alive, with Congress placing a timeline on a potential shutdown of the world’s most popular social media platform. 

TMZ recently showed Soulja Boy screaming, as he tends to do, about making a deal. Now, take that for what it’s worth, but you have to respect his confidence and ambition. 

In the interview, Soulja Boy spoke out against a legislative measure that Biden signed to ban TikTok in the United States if it does not divest from Bytedance, a Chinese-owned and operated technology company. 

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has vowed to keep up the fight until the end. Soula Boy believes the battle is hopeless, but the “Turn My Swag On” rapper said he’ll take over so the app stays as is, popular and successful. It’s a lot of talk, but suggesting alternatives rather than just watching the inevitable play out is better than nothing, depending on who you ask. 

Now get this, and sit down because Soulja believes he essentially invented TikTok culture. He’s always contended he was the first rapper to get big off of YouTube and other social media avenues in the mid-’00s with hits like “Crank Dat” dance craze and more. There might be one issue Soulja can’t quite solve. TikTok is valued around $100 billion. Soulja could find partners, but still, that’s a lot of bread, even for his limitless ideas. Regardless, Soulja wants in on the TikTok conversation and has our attention. 

ByteDance is resisting the call to sell TikTok. According to Reuters, ByteDance has until Jan. 19, 2025, to sell the app following Biden signing the bill to ban the app.

Speaking on TikTok, the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, blasted the bill as “unconstitutional,” telling viewers, “This is a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice.”

He later said, “Politicians may say otherwise, but don’t get confused. Many who sponsored the bill admit a TikTok ban is the ultimate goal.”

Reuters added that TikTok would prefer to shut down United States operations instead of selling its assets.

President Biden signed the divest-or-ban provision as part of a broader national security bill, which includes substantial foreign and military aid for countries like Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine. The swift action came after the Senate voted 79-18 in favor of the measure, indicating strong bipartisan support.

Reflecting on the bill’s journey to his desk, President Biden acknowledged its challenges, stating, “The path to my desk was a difficult path. It should have been easier and it should’ve gotten there sooner.”

TikTok’s legal battle against the divestment mandate underscores the high stakes involved for the popular social media platform and its millions of users in the US. As the situation unfolds, the future of TikTok in the country remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

The post Soulja Boy Campaigns To Buy TikTok, Condemning Potential Ban in U.S. first appeared on The Source.

The post Soulja Boy Campaigns To Buy TikTok, Condemning Potential Ban in U.S. appeared first on The Source.

ByteDance Shuns Idea of Selling TikTok, Would Prefer to Shut Down U.S. Operations

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tiktoklogo gettyimages 072121

ByteDance is resisting the call to sell TikTok. According to Reuters, ByteDance has until Jan. 19, 2025, to sell the app following Biden signing the bill to ban the app.

Speaking on TikTok, the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, blasted the bill as “unconstitutional,” telling viewers, “This is a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice.”

He later said, “Politicians may say otherwise, but don’t get confused. Many who sponsored the bill admit a TikTok ban is the ultimate goal.”

Reuters added that TikTok would prefer to shut down United States operations instead of selling its assets.

President Biden signed the divest-or-ban provision as part of a broader national security bill, which includes substantial foreign and military aid for countries like Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine. The swift action came after the Senate voted 79-18 in favor of the measure, indicating strong bipartisan support.

Reflecting on the bill’s journey to his desk, President Biden acknowledged its challenges, stating, “The path to my desk was a difficult path. It should have been easier and it should’ve gotten there sooner.”

TikTok’s legal battle against the divestment mandate underscores the high stakes involved for the popular social media platform and its millions of users in the US. As the situation unfolds, the future of TikTok in the country remains uncertain, pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

The post ByteDance Shuns Idea of Selling TikTok, Would Prefer to Shut Down U.S. Operations first appeared on The Source.

The post ByteDance Shuns Idea of Selling TikTok, Would Prefer to Shut Down U.S. Operations appeared first on The Source.

House of Representatives Pass Bill to Ban TikTok in U.S., Bill Heads to Senate

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tiktoklogo gettyimages 072121

The House of Representatives has passed a bill furthering the fight to ban TikTok.

The bill, named the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was supported by Democrats and Republicans, while others on both sides of the aisle cited free speech issues.

According to NBC, the bill now heads to the Senate with an uncertain future. President Joe Biden stated he would sign the bill if it made it to him.

The U.S. is hoping to force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell the app to fight a ban. America believes China can impact national security, free speech, and the social media industry.

TikTok is owned by ByteDance. The U.S. would hope for a sale within six months.

Users have stated the bill would alter their business and content creators. Others believe it could cause political problems for young voters in an election year.

Those voting against it were Rep. Ruben Gallego, a Democrat running for Arizona’s Senate seat, who stated, “It’s vital we find a balance that both protects our national security interests and respects our fundamental rights. This is not that.”

In addition to the bill, New York City is taking TikTok, YouTube, and other social media applications to court. The city, led by Mayor Eric Adams, cites the aforementioned, along with Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and more, as a contribution to a “nationwide youth mental health crisis.”

The lawsuit is filed in the California Superior Court, stating the social applications are purposefully designed to be addictive to children and teenagers. The suit follows the Health Commissioner’s Advisory that DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Vasan issued last month, citing the continued use of social media as a public hazard. The advisory calls for parents, healthcare providers, and more to take action.

“Over the past decade, we have seen just how addictive and overwhelming the online world can be, exposing our children to a non-stop stream of harmful content and fueling our national youth mental health crisis,” said Mayor Adams in a press statement.. “Our city is built on innovation and technology, but many social media platforms end up endangering our children’s mental health, promoting addiction, and encouraging unsafe behavior.

“Today, we’re taking bold action on behalf of millions of New Yorkers to hold these companies accountable for their role in this crisis, and we’re building on our work to address this public health hazard. This lawsuit and action plan are part of a larger reckoning that will shape the lives of our young people, our city, and our society for years to come.”

NYC H+H Chief of Behavioral Health and Co-Deputy Chief Medical Officer Omar Fattal, MD, MPH added, “We must maximize our efforts to support the mental health needs of children and adolescents by providing families with tools and resources that foster healthy development. This includes robustly addressing the negative impact of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents. We join the mayor and DOHMH in encouraging all young people and their families to consider their use of social media and how it may be negatively affecting them.”

Mayor Adams’ administration has been actively addressing the youth mental health crisis. In a significant move last year, the city introduced TeenSpace, a free tele-mental health service catering to New York City teenagers aged 13 to 17. This service enables youths to connect with licensed therapists via phone, video, or text. Since its launch, TeenSpace has provided support to over 2,000 teenagers across the five boroughs within just three months of operation.

The post House of Representatives Pass Bill to Ban TikTok in U.S., Bill Heads to Senate first appeared on The Source.

The post House of Representatives Pass Bill to Ban TikTok in U.S., Bill Heads to Senate appeared first on The Source.