Written by: Sadie Linnick and Stella Vicioso
In a shocking display of priorities, the Senate Intelligence Committee called in an unexpected witness, a 12 year old TikTok addict, to testify about the platform’s influence on young Americans. The hearing, seemingly focused on national security concerns surrounding TikTok’s Chinese ownership, quickly devolved into a strange exchange between American lawmakers and the child.
The anonymous 12 year old, who was called as a witness despite having no formal expertise on the subject, provided the straightforward opinion: “One thing I do know, I love TikTok so much, it’s my favorite app.” Instead of engaging in productive conversation about data privacy or influencing algorithms, some senators took the opportunity to lecture the child on his internet habits.
A senator from Pennsylvania offered the child should try “touching grass,” an internet phrase used to suggest someone needs to get offline. Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio took (R-FL) a more combative approach, telling the child, “You’ve been brainwashed by China,” before asking, “Do you enjoy Chinese food?”
The strange line of questioning left observers questioning the purpose of the hearing. While concerns about TikTok’s ties to China and its potential risks have been a major topic of discussion in Washington, many believe grilling a middle schooler added little to the conversation.