TikTok’s Geopolitical Storm: A New Book Reveals the Inside Story of ByteDance and the Algorithm That Gripped the world
Table of Contents
A video-sharing app that began as a platform for lip-syncing and dance challenges has become a central battleground in a global power struggle. Emily Baker-White’s new book, every Screen on the Planet, offers a revealing look at TikTok’s rise, its Chinese parent company ByteDance, and the complex political maneuvering that now defines its fate.
In just five years, TikTok has amassed over a billion users, captivating audiences in the US and china with its addictive algorithm. This algorithm,capable of predicting user preferences with remarkable accuracy,has attracted the attention – and concern – of world superpowers. Baker-White, drawing on extensive reporting and access to covertly recorded internal meetings, traces TikTok’s journey from its 2016 origins to its current precarious position, where its future rests with leaders in both Washington and Beijing.
The Pursuit of Ubiquity and the Rise of Political Savvy
According to internal discussions revealed in the book, TikTok’s early business strategy centered on becoming “ubiquitous.” While the platform initially distinguished itself through “pure delight”-a continuous stream of engaging videos tailored to individual tastes-Baker-White emphasizes that its rapid ascent was equally defined by its swift adaptation to the world of politics.The author notes that TikTok’s success wasn’t simply about its technology, but about “the speed at which TikTok had to learn the art of political manoeuvring.”
Zhang Yiming: A tech Founder Caught in the Crosscurrents
The book portrays bytedance founder Zhang Yiming as a tragic figure – a Silicon Valley
A Lack of Glory All Around
The book offers a critical assessment of all parties involved, finding fault not only with TikTok and the Chinese state but also with American leaders. Baker-White points out the hypocrisy of Joe Biden uploading campaign videos to the platform shortly after vowing to ban it,and the inaction of Congress in addressing data privacy concerns beyond those specific to TikTok. Donald Trump’s shifting stance throughout the saga is described as motivated by what he believed woudl “most benefit his supporters and hurt his opponents.”
The author suggests that the Republican victory in the US elections proved to be the “best possible outcome” for tiktok, as Trump’s “transactionalism” offered opportunities for the company to “outwit the US government.” In January 2025, TikTok reportedly funded a Trump inauguration party and sent a push notification to users falsely announcing the app’s impending shutdown, only to later credit Trump with saving it from “arbitrary censorship.”
Echoes of Fear and Control
Baker-White also sheds light on the climate of fear within China’s tech industry, referencing the case of Jack Ma, the Alibaba founder who “disappeared” for three months. However, she observes a troubling trend in the US, where tech CEOs and politicians appear to be adopting a similar approach – demanding and displaying “absolute fealty” rather than fostering open innovation. The prospect of trump handing oversight of TikTok’s algorithm to an ally, Larry Ellison, underscores this shift.
Every Screen on the Planet ultimately demonstrates the dangers of allowing arbitrary political power to interfere with business.Though, Baker-White laments that the lessons of the TikTok saga appear to be mislearned.
Every Screen on the Planet: The Secret Story of TikTok by Emily Baker-White. Macmillan Business, £22/WW Norton & Co $29.95, 368 pages.
