National Threats and Responses Toward Digital Social Media: The Case of Global TikTok Regulations

Abstract

Since the United States' attempt to regulate TikTok in 2020 due to national security concerns, 32 countries have implemented various regulatory measures against the platform for different reasons. This study uses global TikTok regulations as a case study to investigate the types of social media threats perceived by nations and their corresponding regulatory responses. Employing thematic analysis, we examine the relationship between threat perceptions regarding TikTok and regulatory responses across different countries. Grounded in the dual attributes of content and data within social media, along with considerations of threats at both national and individual levels, we formulate a typology of national threats emanating from social media. The findings reveal that (i) countries perceiving threats to TikTok from national security-data concerns are more inclined to implement measures isolating it from critical devices, (ii) countries perceiving threats related to individual well-being-data are more prone to adopting privacy regulations, and (iii) countries perceiving threats linked to national security-content and individual well-being-content are more inclined to enforce complete bans or content regulations. These decisions are influenced by factors including domestic stability, religious convictions, and democratization.

Keywords: Media regulation, global TikTok regulation, social media national threats, typology, media comparative studies