MidReal Story
Social Media Standoff: Taylor's American Dilemma
Scenario: Taylor Swift: If TikTok Is Banned, I Will Leave the U.S.
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I’m only a few minutes into my performance for TikTok when Justin Bieber, who’s hosting the stream with me, says something that makes me laugh so hard I almost miss it.
“Let’s move to Japan!”
he exclaims, and I have to pause to catch my breath.
“Yeah, let’s move to Japan,” I say once my giggles subside.
“I’m down for that.”
We’re joking, of course, but we have a good reason for wanting to leave the U.S.
TikTok has been banned by the Trump administration, and as two musicians whose careers have been heavily influenced by the platform, we’ve decided that we’ll pack our bags and go somewhere else.
The decision is extreme, but it’s not one we’ve made lightly.
For Justin, the platform has been instrumental in launching his latest album.
He was able to connect with fans around the world and get instant feedback on his songs, which helped him decide which ones to release as singles.
And for me, TikTok has been a space where I can be creative and connect with fans in a different way.
I’ve had a few of my songs trend as sounds on the platform, which has helped increase their popularity.
Even more importantly, TikTok has given me a place to share my music with fans all over the world while I’m stuck at home during quarantine.
It’s a privilege I don’t want to lose, which is why I’m considering moving somewhere else if the ban goes through.
“I’m not from Japan,” Justin says after a moment.
I shrug and glance at him through the tiny screen on our phones.
“Yeah, but you’ve got money.You can move anywhere.”
“True,” he concedes.
“I could move anywhere.”
“And you can take me with you,” I say with a smile.
Justin grins back at me before turning his attention back to the camera.
“We’re not leaving America,” he tells everyone who’s watching.
He sounds determined, but I hear the note of disbelief in his voice and know he feels the same way I do—how can we leave a country we love so much?
“We are if they ban TikTok,” I tell him through the audio in our earpieces.
Justin glances at me and raises an eyebrow.
“So, where are we going to go?”
I shrug and give him a helpless look.
“I don’t know.
We’ll figure it out when we get there.”
Justin grins and gives a little nod.
“Okay, let’s do it,” he says.
