> Because the biggest concern is still Chinese ownership of US customer data.

This legislation doesn't ban all Chinese government controlled apps that users might share their data with, only those that are social media specifically. If users cannot view content generated by other users, then it isn't social media and isn't banned by this bill. If the app doesn't sell digital advertising space, then it isn't social media (according to this bill) and isn't banned.

A Chinese government "backup app" that lets you upload all your documents to a server in China would presumably not be banned by this bill because it lacks those social media features. Maybe it would be banned by another law, but not this one. Or consider a Chinese "keyboard app", that logs everything you type. That's not social media, so this bill doesn't ban it.

Ok what’s your point?

That this is not the real motivation of the bill: "the biggest concern is still Chinese ownership of US customer data."

The bill doesn't address Chinese ownership of US customer data. The bill is specifically about social media, and doesn't apply generally to other Chinese companies that also suck up US customer data.

It would be a tough sell. Think of the children works so much better.

Yet you admitted, another kind of services would "presumably not be banned by this bill because it lacks those social media features. Maybe it would be banned by another law, ..." which is in agreement with comments saying that this bill is targeted at Tik Tok.

The irony is that the pedagogic aspect is secondary if those comments are right, but because data which documents how much the people are lacking impulse control is at ridiculous levels, if I am projecting myself for a second. The why you don't face book and study meme applies.

Basically, I don't think these US legislators are (as of yet) serious about combating the privacy and national security concerns centered around foreign apps. They're mad about TikTok specifically, probably because their own children have been watching/producing cringe on TikTok specifically.

Well, that's what I said, isn't it?

On the surface it's about the kids. But congress is a social network with thought leaders and lobbyists, too. They ought to know the power those even bigger networks can have.

I'm not any more comfortable with Facebook owning that data than the Chinese government. We've already seen the harm that comes from that.

Ok...so the solution is to allow China to own the data and not more closely regulate how data is stored and used at any social media company that stores US customer data?

Unless you are of Chinese extraction, with relatives still in China, and are politically active.

Not a small group, and a very vulnerable group.