TikTok users in the United States are expressing their unhappiness at the plans to force the sale of the social media app's parent company. A bill that would require the sale within six months or face a ban was approved by a US congressional panel. Users of the app received a notification urging them to take action to prevent a TikTok shutdown. This has resulted in numerous calls to American politicians, with some Congressmen even being contacted by children on the matter.

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The bill, proposed by a cross-party group of lawmakers, aims to protect the national security of the United States. Lawmakers argue that TikTok's owner, ByteDance, has links with the Chinese Communist Party, a claim denied by ByteDance and TikTok. The bill specifically targets ByteDance, requiring them to sell TikTok or face removal from mobile app stores in the US. However, individual users of the app will not face legal action. The bill has been approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee and is expected to be voted on in the full House next week.

TikTok confirmed that it had sent a notification to its users urging them to call their representatives and vote against the bill. This mobilization of users has drawn criticism from committee chairwoman, who questioned why members of Congress were complaining about hearing from their constituents. TikTok responded by stating that it is their job to listen to their constituents. The platform argues that the bill would trample on the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans and harm small businesses.

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The bill's proponents argue that allowing a company with links to the Chinese Communist Party to control a dominant media platform in the US poses a threat to national security. They believe that TikTok's parent company is required to collaborate with China's political leadership. However, opponents of the bill claim that it is an outright ban on TikTok and an infringement on Americans' First Amendment rights. They argue that the app is used by millions for information and communication, and that the bill is a political move during an election year.