Article 1: No More TikTok?
Written by: Zoe Ng, Researched by: Anderson Li, Edited by: Brian Lum
WASHINGTON — On March 13, 2024, an overwhelmingly large majority of the United States House of Representatives approved a bill to potentially ban the popular social media app TikTok. Proposals to impose restrictions or completely ban the app have been brought up in the past; however, only recently did the U.S. government take legislative action. The bill was passed due to concerns about China’s influence and control over Chinese media such as TikTok, whose parent company is ByteDance — a Chinese technology company. If the bill is enacted, ByteDance has around five months to transfer ownership of TikTok to a non-Chinese company. Otherwise, the social media app would be banned from all app stores in the United States. President Joe Biden has since expressed his support for the bill, stating that he will pass the bill if it reaches him.
The threat to ban TikTok is part of the ongoing technology war between the U.S. and China. As dominating powers in the global technology market, the two countries are constantly in competition with one another, whether for control of trade or becoming the world leader in emerging technology, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The United States has made efforts to restrict Chinese-owned companies from collecting user data, fearing that sensitive information may be at risk of leaking to the Chinese government; the potential banning of TikTok is just another restriction.
Earlier this year, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and other companies testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on social media’s devastating impact on child exploitation. At the hearing, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark) repeatedly questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at length on Chew’s citizenship and his connection to the Chinese Communist Party, which Chew denied. Chew has since persistently reassured the U.S. government that TikTok poses no harm and does not allow the Chinese government access to users’ personal information and sensitive data.
If the bill is ultimately passed and TikTok’s ownership has not been transferred within the given time limit, the service will be removed from all U.S. app stores. A fine of $5,000 would be imposed for any users of the banned app. However, many rely on the app for entertainment, seeking information and building connections. Elimination of the popular platform would undoubtedly affect the lives of millions of Americans, and users have not been shy expressing their disapproval of the bill to ban TikTok.
Article 2: Hayao Miyazaki Wins Oscar for “The Boy and the Heron”
Written by: Eason Zhu, Researched by: Doris Tung, Andy Huang, Edited by: Yaying Zhao
A little over two decades after winning his first Oscar for “Spirited Away” for Best Animated Feature, Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki has done it again. The 2024 Academy Awards took place on March 10th at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. More commonly known as the Oscars, this event highlighted many great movies and notable figures within the industry who deservingly won their nominated awards. Of these is Miyazaki, who had won his second career Oscar for Best Animated Feature, despite not being present at the event due to the shame of walking back on his retirement. Seen as one of the best films of 2023, “The Boy and the Heron” beat out various competitors for the award, such as: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Elemental,” “Nioma” and “Robot Dream.”
However, the aftermath of this win wasn’t without controversy. A vocal minority firmly believed that “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” deserved to have won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. From Reddit to TikTok to YouTube, to even the voice actor for Miles Morales, people have made their opinions heard across social media platforms. One creator on TikTok admitted that, while they had not seen the movie yet, they were “disgusted” and voiced disbelief that “Spider-Verse” lost the Oscar. The voice actor of Miles Morales, Shameik Moore, threw his two cents into the discourse through posts on X, formally known as Twitter, stating: “Respect to the winners. It’s true, I’m definitely a sore loser, but we didn’t lose … we may not have been acknowledged tonight but life goes on, and BEYOND….. yea get ready.”
Despite the controversy, however, most moviegoers and critics enjoy and appreciate what might be Miyazaki’s final film. What everyone can agree on, however, is the lasting impact that Hayao Miyazaki has on society and the image of Asian filmmaking by creating multi-dimensional characters through strong storytelling and animation.
Article 3: Akira Toriyama, “Dragon Ball” Creator, Dies at 68
Written by: Lydia Luo, Researched by: Tasnimul Fahim, Edited by: Jessica Kwok
TOKYO — Akira Toriyama died on March 1, 2024 at the age of 68 from acute subdural hematoma. Toriyama was a very influential manga artist, making his manga debut in 1978 with the adventure comic “Wonder Island.” He then began “Dr. Slump,” his first major hit, in 1980. As a well-respected manga artist, Toriyama was commissioned to design a variety of characters for major games such as “Dragon Quest” (Enix) and “Chrono Trigger” (Super Nintendo). He also won the Shogakukan Manga Award, one of Japan's oldest major manga awards, in 1981. Toriyama’s influence broke barriers and reached international levels, even being knighted as Chevalier by the French government in 2019 for his contributions to the arts. The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognizes those who significantly impact arts and literature. As a very influential Japanese manga artist, his legacy is still talked about because of his best-known work, the “Dragon Ball” series.
Inspired by the Chinese epic “Journey to the West,” Toriyama started creating “Dragon Ball” in 1984. He adapted the epic to be more humorous and focused on the martial arts aspect, resulting in growing interest throughout the globe. When “Dragon Ball” first hit the shelves, the manga sold about 260 million copies. As a result of this worldwide success, 20 movies and 11 series were created. It also inspired character designs and combat moves in games such as “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Street Fighter.” Beyond its influence on Japanese culture, the series acquired a block in Cartoon Network in the beginning of 1996. This was the perfect opportunity to give the first taste of a Shōnen to Western audiences and further increased the popularity of “Dragon Ball.” It also had a significant impact on the early internet community, sparking some of the first memes ever created such as “It’s over 9000!!”
Many were saddened when met with the news of Toriyama’s death due to his contributions to popularizing Japanese media on a global scale, sparking mass social media buzz and events mourning his death. X — formerly known as Twitter — was flooded with fans from all around the world who honored Toriyama and collectively mourned his loss. Many fans said that Toriyama’s work was the cornerstone of their childhood and that he was a hero in their eyes. Some referred to Toriyama as “sensei” or master and drew fan art to honor him and his work. Other artists also gave respect to Toriyama such as Eiichiro Oda, creator of “One Piece,” who stated: “It’s too soon. The void left behind is too large. The sadness overwhelms me when I realize I’ll never meet you again. From my childhood, I’ve admired you. I remember the day I was first called by name ... with respect and gratitude for Akira Toriyama-sensei’s rich creative world, I sincerely pray for his peaceful rest." Toriyama was someone who delved his whole life into the arts, and it was always clear that his love for his creations was shared amongst everyone.
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