📍 Rotterdam — If you’re in your twenties, living in Rotterdam, and scrolling through TikTok between tram rides and coffee breaks, you might not realize you’re caught in the middle of a global power struggle. But you are. That app you use to laugh, learn, and vibe? It’s become a battleground for the world’s two biggest superpowers: the United States and China.
This isn’t just about viral dances or Gen Z humor. It’s about data, influence, rare earth metals, and who gets to shape the future of the internet. And while politicians talk about “national security,” the real story is way messier—and way more relevant to your life than you might think.
Let’s break it down.
🎭 TikTok: The App That Became a Weapon
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese tech company. In the U.S., it has over 170 million users. That’s more than half the population. Politicians, activists, influencers, and even President Trump use it to connect with people. But that massive reach has triggered alarms in Washington.
Why? Because the U.S. government fears that TikTok could be used by the Chinese state to:
- Access American user data
- Influence political opinions
- Spread propaganda or suppress dissent
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So, the U.S. passed a law: ByteDance must sell TikTok’s American operations to a U.S.-based company—or face a ban. Oracle, Andreessen Horowitz, and Silver Lake Management are lined up to take over. ByteDance is resisting, especially when it comes to handing over its prized algorithm.
But this isn’t just a tech deal. It’s a chess move in a much bigger game.
🧠 The Bigger Picture: Digital Geopolitics
TikTok is just one piece of a global puzzle. The U.S. and China are locked in a high-stakes competition over:
- 🌐 Who controls the internet
- ⚙️ Who supplies the world’s tech infrastructure
- 🧲 Who owns the raw materials that make it all possible
And that last point? It’s huge.
⚙️ Rare Earth Metals: The Hidden Power Source
China dominates the global supply of rare earth metals—elements like samarium, gadolinium, and terbium. These aren’t just obscure minerals. They’re essential for:
- Smartphones
- Electric vehicles
- Wind turbines
- Military tech
China produces about 90% of the world’s refined rare earths. The U.S. imports 80% of its supply from China. That gives Beijing serious leverage.
In recent months, China has restricted exports of rare earth magnets, putting pressure on American industries. Meanwhile, the U.S. has slapped tariffs on Chinese goods—up to 125% in some cases. China responded with its own tariffs, reaching as high as 84% on American products like soybeans, Boeing aircraft, and medical equipment.
So while the headlines scream “TikTok ban,” the real fight is over who controls the materials and technologies that power the modern world.
💰 It’s Also About Money. Lots of It.
TikTok isn’t just a cultural force—it’s an economic one. The app generates billions in ad revenue and data value. If ByteDance loses control of its U.S. operations, it loses access to a massive market.
On the flip side, American companies stand to gain big. Oracle and others want a piece of the pie. Trump wants to keep the money—and the data—within U.S. borders.
China, meanwhile, is offering economic sweeteners to keep negotiations smooth. They’ve proposed buying hundreds of Boeing planes and increasing imports of American soybeans. These moves are designed to appease key U.S. industries and voters.
🗳️ TikTok’s Political Power
TikTok isn’t just a tech issue—it’s a political one. The app has become a major platform for:
- Political campaigns
- Social movements
- Cultural debates
Activists use it to mobilize. Politicians use it to connect. And influencers use it to shape narratives.
That makes TikTok a threat—not just to data security, but to the status quo. The U.S. fears that China could use the app to subtly influence American public opinion. Whether that’s true or not, the fear is enough to drive policy.
🧱 What About the Other Side?
Here’s the twist: while TikTok thrives in the West, American platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are blocked in China. The Chinese government uses its “Great Firewall” to control what people see and say online.
Instead, China has its own platforms—WeChat, Weibo, Xiaohongshu—all heavily monitored and censored. Western companies have little to no influence in China’s digital space.
So there’s a clear imbalance:
- China influences Western users via TikTok
- The West has no equivalent influence in China
That’s why the U.S. is pushing back. It’s not just about one app—it’s about restoring digital symmetry.
🧠 Subtle vs. Direct Control
China’s control is obvious: censorship, surveillance, and state-run platforms. The West’s control is subtler—but no less real.
In Europe and the U.S., governments shape public opinion through:
- Legislation
- Media ownership
- Educational systems
- Cultural framing
Take racism, for example. It’s not a natural phenomenon—it’s socially constructed. And while Western governments often claim to fight racism, their policies sometimes reinforce it. Think of the Dutch childcare benefits scandal, where families with migrant backgrounds were unfairly targeted.
So while China uses censorship, the West uses policy and culture. Different tools, same goal: influence.
🌐 The Digital World Order
At the heart of all this is a simple question: Who gets to define the rules of the internet?
For years, the U.S. led the way. But now, China is challenging that dominance—with platforms like TikTok, infrastructure projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, and strategic control over rare earths.
The TikTok deal is just one battle in a much larger war. It’s about:
- Who owns the data
- Who controls the algorithms
- Who sets the norms for online behavior
And that affects everyone—from coders in Silicon Valley to content creators in Rotterdam.
📍 Why It Matters to You
If you’re a young adult in Rotterdam, this might feel distant. But it’s not. You use TikTok. You buy electronics. You vote. You shape culture.
And all of that is influenced by the decisions being made in Washington and Beijing.
So next time you scroll through your feed, remember: you’re not just consuming content. You’re participating in a global power dynamic.
🔮 What’s Next?
Trump and Xi are expected to speak soon. The TikTok deal is on the table. So are rare earths, Boeing orders, and student visas.
Whatever happens, it will shape the future of tech, trade, and digital freedom.
And you? You’re right in the middle of it.
Welcome to the new world order. Stay curious. Stay critical. And keep scrolling—wisely.
Dutch Echo 
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