WHAT: The Civil Discourse Project
WHERE: The LBJ School, Room B10
PARTICIPANTS: Any student (undergraduate and graduate) at UT-Austin!
EVENT PARTNERS: Braver Angels TX, The LBJ School of Public Affairs, The School of Civic Leadership, Bridge Texas and other supportive partnerships.
REFRESHMENTS: Pizza will be served.
REGISTER HERE
ABOUT THE EVENT
This is the third event in a pilot civil discourse project moderated by Braver Angels Central Texas--A "Single Issue Fishbowl" on the following topic: "Should TikTok be banned in the US?"
HOW IT WORKS
The “Fishbowl” exercise allows participants on either side of an issue to hear why the other side thinks their view is the better one. BUT that’s not all. Each side’s participants are also asked to consider uncertainties or doubts they have about the position they have taken.
With the help of a facilitator, each group (of 6-10 participants) will have the chance to respond to the following two questions about the issue of banning TikTok in the United States, while the other group, and observers, listen:
Question 1: Please briefly explain the reasons why you feel TikTok should (or should not) be banned in the US.
Question 2: What doubts, uncertainties, or reservations do you have about your position?
Following the Fishbowl conversations, participants from each side are paired up for a brief discussion about what they learned from listening to the other side. This is followed by a group discussion on the same question. The entire activity takes approximately 90-120 minutes.
BACKGROUND:
TikTok has been banned from operating in the U.S., effective January 19, 2025, unless it is divested by ByteDance, its Chinese-based owner. The US Supreme Court recently heard arguments on this case, the main issue being whether national security interests outweigh first amendment concerns raised by TikTok. The Supreme Court ruled on January 17th to uphold the ban.
Where do you stand on this important free speech issue? Come share your views on February 3.
REGISTER HERE
SIGN UP TO BE:
(1) A "TIKTOK SHOULD BE BANNED IN THE US" PARTICIPANT;
(2) A "TIKTOK SHOULD NOT BE BANNED IN THE US" PARTICIPANT; OR
(3) AN OBSERVER.
SUGGESTED READINGS:
How would a TikTok ban work in the US?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/10/how-does-tiktok-ban-work
Could a TikTok Ban Be a Second Patriot Act?
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-tiktok-ban-is-an-assault-on-free-speech/
How the US TikTok Ban Would Actually Work
https://www.wired.com/story/how-the-us-tiktok-ban-would-actually-work/
