On March 25, 2021, the CEO of TikTok, Kevin Mayer, was grilled by US politicians in a hearing about the app's data privacy and security practices. However, what was most interesting about this hearing was the use of psychological warfare tactics by politicians to manipulate the public's perception of TikTok.


Psychological warfare is the use of psychological tactics, such as propaganda, to influence a target audience's emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. In the case of the TikTok hearing, politicians used two main tactics to create a negative perception of the app: fear-mongering and demonization.


Fear-mongering is the act of creating fear and panic in a target audience to influence their behavior. During the hearing, politicians repeatedly brought up the idea that TikTok was a national security threat because it was owned by a Chinese company. They claimed that the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on Americans and steal their data.


This fear-mongering tactic is not new. In fact, it has been used by politicians for decades to create a negative perception of other countries and their citizens. By creating fear around TikTok, politicians were able to influence the public's perception of the app and increase support for their efforts to ban it.


The second tactic used by politicians during the hearing was demonization. Demonization is the act of portraying a person or group as evil or immoral to create a negative perception of them. During the hearing, politicians repeatedly portrayed TikTok as a company that was willing to sacrifice the privacy and security of its users for profit.

This demonization tactic is also not new. It has been used by politicians for years to create a negative perception of their opponents. By portraying TikTok as an evil company, politicians were able to create a negative perception of the app and increase support for their efforts to ban it.


However, what is most concerning about the use of psychological warfare tactics by politicians is the potential for them to be used against innocent people. If politicians can use these tactics to create a negative perception of an app, what is stopping them from using them against individuals or groups they disagree with?


Psychological warfare tactics are dangerous because they can be used to manipulate people's emotions and beliefs without their knowledge. They can be used to create fear, panic, and hatred, which can lead to violence and conflict.


As citizens, it is important that we are aware of these tactics and how they are being used by politicians. We need to be critical of the information we receive and question the motives behind it. We need to be vigilant against the use of psychological warfare tactics and hold politicians accountable when they use them.


In conclusion, the TikTok hearing was not just about data privacy and security. It was also about the use of psychological warfare tactics by politicians to create a negative perception of the app. By fear-mongering and demonization, politicians were able to manipulate the public's perception of TikTok and increase support for their efforts to ban it. As citizens, we must be aware of these tactics and hold politicians accountable when they use them. Only then can we ensure that our beliefs and behaviors are not being manipulated for political gain.