TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew recently appeared before a congressional committee in Washington, D.C. to answer questions about the popular video-sharing app. And as expected, the internet had some fun with it, producing countless fan edits and memes.
Chew, who previously served as the chief financial officer of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, took over as CEO of TikTok earlier this year. Since then, he has been working to address concerns about the app’s privacy and security practices, particularly in the United States.
During his appearance before the Senate Commerce Committee, Chew faced questions about TikTok’s data collection practices, its ties to China, and its handling of misinformation on the platform. He emphasized that TikTok operates independently of the Chinese government and that user data is stored in the United States and Singapore.
However, many lawmakers expressed skepticism about Chew’s claims and questioned whether TikTok could truly be trusted. Some also raised concerns about the app’s potential to be used for censorship and propaganda.
Despite the serious nature of the hearing, social media users couldn’t resist poking fun at Chew’s appearance and mannerisms. Memes and fan edits of the TikTok CEO quickly began to circulate, with many users joking that he looked like a character from a video game or anime series.
Others criticized the focus on Chew’s appearance, arguing that it detracted from the important issues at hand. Nevertheless, the trend continued to gain steam on social media, with some users even creating their own TikTok videos inspired by Chew’s testimony.
It remains to be seen what impact, if any, Chew’s appearance before Congress will have on TikTok’s future. However, it’s clear that the internet will continue to find ways to have fun with the app, no matter what happens.