If you are against misinformation and hate speech, you know, you've got to be against it on all platforms and not just on TikTok.

There are No Girls on the Internet as a production of IHeart Radio and Unbossed Creative.

I'm Bridget Todd, and this is There Are No Girls on the Internet.

Let's talk about TikTok, the super popular social media app owned by Bite Dance, a Chinese-based

company.

Now, a growing collection of elected officials want

TikTok banned in the United States because they say it represents a national security risk.

The Biden administration demanded that TikTok be sold or it could face a ban in the U.S.

Congress has also rolled out a bipartisan bill allowing a nationwide TikTok ban called the Restrict Act,

which would allow the Secretary of Commerce to ban apps that pose a risk to U.S. national security.

Last week, members of Congress held a hearing where they grilled TikTok CEO Shozzy Chu.

Now, y'all know I love TikTok, but I also know that like any other social media

app, it is not without its issues. TikTok disinformation researcher and friend of the show, Abby Richards,

was one of the first people calling out TikTok for the way that myths and disinformation and hate speech

spreads on the app. But for all of her criticisms of TikTok,

Abby still says that banning the platform is not the right move.

In a recent op-ed for Newsweek that you can read in the show notes,

Abby explained why she thinks banning TikTok

will ultimately hurt marginalized communities.

I caught up with Abby right after we both watched the hearing.

Abby Richards, friend of the show, how are you?

I am angry, Bridget.

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