“Goodbye Chinese spy”, the latest TikTok trend before the ban in the USA

As the Supreme Court prepares to decide on the fate of TikTok in the United States, the platform is hit by a wave of ironic and surreal content. The impending ban, which could go into effect on January 19, has sparked an unusual trend among TikTokers: hailing their own “personal Chinese spy.” With a mixture of sarcasm and resignation, users thank the app’s alleged surveillance for providing them with personalized and entertaining content. Some even say they prefer sharing their data with the Chinese government rather than migrating to alternatives like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts.

@_unsc_ Replying to @ruinfv1 ♬ original sound – _unsc_

One post, which has surpassed 1.5 million likes, shows an emotional scene from Squid Game with the caption “Me greeting my Chinese spy on the 19th (perfected my algorithm).” Other TikTokers try their hand at Chinese-language performances or play the role of “spies” in charge of the algorithms. “It has been a great honor to spy on you for the past few years,” says TikToker yanxiao1003 in a video. “I wish everyone a wonderful life in the future… Laura from California, you shouldn’t drink all that Coca-Cola, it’s bad for your health.”

This wave of tongue-in-cheek content reflects TikTok’s long-standing security concerns, fueled by its parent company, ByteDance,’s ties to China. Allegations of data collection and sharing with the Chinese government led US lawmakers to call the app a “national security threat.” The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether TikTok will be permanently banned or whether ByteDance will be forced to relinquish ownership of it. While waiting for the verdict, the irony of users seems to be the only tool to exorcise uncertainty about the future of the platform.