The discourse surrounding the potential banning of TikTok in the US has been contaminated with anti-Asian rhetoric that is affecting the Asian community. TikTok has long been a political target in the U.S., amid concerns that the app could be used to spread “pro-China propaganda” because of its ties to China’s ruling communist party, which has also led to fears that user data could be misused. But the way the TikTok trial went in March may encourage xenophobia and has the potential to hinder the development of tech by discouraging international students and tech workers from the field. While there are real concerns surrounding TikTok, Anti-Asian rhetoric was already on the rise during the pandemic and Asian-Americans have been facing struggles because of it. (Business Insider)