US Government Deal May Boost Pro-Trump Content on TikTok Amid Ongoing Approval Process

US-China TikTok Deal Could See Boosting of "Pro-Trump Content" A proposed deal between the US government and Chinese-owned social media app TikTok has sparked concerns that it may lead to a surge in pro-Donald Trump content on the platform. The agreement, which is still pending approval, would see ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, sell its stake in the app to Oracle, a US-based tech firm. According to sources close to the deal, the new regime will be run by Trump-friendly allies, who have ties to the former president. This has raised alarms among critics, who fear that the platform may become a mouthpiece for pro-Trump propaganda. "This is not just a deal, it's essentially a media empire being handed over to Trump-friendly allies," said Marc Owen Jones, associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar. "It's a recipe for censorship and manipulation of public opinion." The deal has been in the works since August, when President Trump issued an executive order demanding that ByteDance divest its stake in TikTok due to national security concerns. The US government had argued that the app posed a risk to American data security, as it is owned by a Chinese company. However, critics argue that the real motivation behind the deal is to silence dissenting voices on the platform. "TikTok has become a hub for progressive and liberal content, which is why Trump's allies are so keen to get their hands on it," said Jones. The proposed deal would see Oracle take control of TikTok's algorithm, which determines what content users see on the app. This has raised concerns that pro-Trump content may be prioritized over other types of content. "The algorithm will be tweaked to favor Trump-friendly content, and this will have a chilling effect on free speech," said Jones. The deal is still pending approval from US regulators, but if it goes ahead, it could have significant implications for the platform's users. "This is not just about TikTok, it's about the future of social media and the kind of content that we see online," said Jones. As the deal hangs in the balance, critics are calling on regulators to ensure that the platform remains free from censorship and manipulation. "We need to be vigilant and make sure that this deal does not lead to a surge in pro-Trump propaganda on TikTok," said Jones. The outcome of the deal will have significant implications for social media users and the future of online content. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance, and with it, the kind of content that we see online. *Reporting by Aljazeera.*