(TibetanReview.net, Jul02’24) – Tibetan users say the company that owns the TikTok-like Douyin short video app is in violation of China’s state policies and laws by its strict ban on their language, which is certainly true. However, the real culprit behind the ban and its strict enforcement may very well be the party-state of China itself which is in the midst of implementing an all-out drive to Sinicize Tibetan language, culture, and religion both in Tibet and across the People’s Republic of China.
In fact, all the major online platforms in China are seen to ban the use of Tibetan language.
Numerous Tibetans have voiced their concerns on social media, reporting difficulties in streaming and speaking in Tibetan, with their postings being subjected to immediate censorship and deletion, said Dharamshala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Jul 1.
The issue has once again sparked concerns after Tibetan netizen Youga Ga posted a video expressing strong discontent over the ban on using the Tibetan language, the group said.
“I am compelled to speak out today. I question whether Douyin holds more power and authority than the nation and the legal system. Is Douyin more powerful than the state? What is the reality here? To clarify, the state’s policies explicitly grant protection for cultural preservation and language promotion, a mandate supported by both the legal system and the government,” Youga has maintained.
” What is the rationale behind Douyin Company banning our language? Aren’t all ethnicities supposed to be equal? Why, then, is the use of our Tibetan language being restricted?” Youga has demanded to know.
Youga has warned that if the ban continues, many individuals who depend on Douyin for their livelihood will pool money to take legal action against it. “I request that the authorities address this issue, as the ban on the Tibetan language is also affecting the livelihoods of citizens, whether it is for online trading or online counselling.”
Launched in Sep 2016 by ByteDance (a Chinese multinational internet technology company headquartered in Beijing and which also owns TikTok), Douyin has more than 700 million active users. Many Tibetans, including businessmen, social workers, doctors, influencers, and monastics, use it for content creation, online business, and marketing, essentially making a living from this platform.
The group has then quoted an unnamed Tibetan doctor as saying: “I may be a small-time Tibetan doctor, but my medical expertise has never been in question. I encounter numerous patients who self-medicate for headaches and other illnesses with painkillers without seeking medical advice. Many seriously ill individuals and those with health issues seek my guidance. With the prohibition on using the Tibetan language, I am forced to use Chinese, and since my patients are Tibetan, especially the elderly and illiterate youth, including farmers and nomads, they struggle to understand me when I speak in Chinese. What purpose does speaking Chinese serve if they cannot comprehend it? As a result, I have stopped my online broadcasts.”
Also, Bhoejey, formerly a monk, has complained about being unable to engage in online academic exchanges over Douyin due to the language debarment. “We monks especially would like to invite Geshe and experts from Kham, Amdo, and U-Tsang provinces to join the platform for teachings and discussions so we would not need to travel from place to place. Scholars from across Tibet could exchange ideas. Unfortunately, we do not have such freedom.”
The group quoted an unnamed Tibetan trader as saying, complaining that there is, in fact, a general ban on Tibetan language on China’s online platforms: “I have been trading on various online platforms for about five years, dedicating approximately 18-19 hours daily to live broadcasts. I am not alone in this; myself and six other colleagues take turns hosting live commercials. We use online broadcasting to conduct our business. In total, I oversee a team of over fifty people. Our business model involves purchasing wholesale goods from China and selling them online at a reduced price to Tibetans. However, a significant challenge we face is that all websites prohibit using the Tibetan language. This means that 80% of our potential customers cannot understand the products we are offering. This restriction directly hurts our business objectives. It would be much more effective if we were allowed to communicate in Tibetan.”