The TikTok Ban
On April 22, 2024, during I-block, when I first heard that the House of Representatives passed a bill to ban TikTok, I was actually devastated. What made it worse was as soon as I opened the app after hearing the news, the first video that popped up was one of those guys with headphones who recap what’s happening in America. Naturally, he talked about the TikTok ban. Conducting some further research, I discovered that the Senate took up the bill on Tuesday, April 23. When the bill landed on President Biden’s table in the Oval Office the next day, he signed it.
Everyone knows the flaws of social media. It can affect self esteem, hinder productivity, and spread false information. Yet every platform is susceptible to these inadequacies, so why does the US government specifically insist on banning TikTok? They believe that it is fueling misinformation and putting sensitive user info into the hands of the Chinese government. The bill allows TikTok a nine month grace period, with a possible three month extension, to try and sell their app to an American company. If not, then TikTok would be removed from US app stores on both Android and Apple devices. New customers would be unable to download the app, while old users would lose access to updates. If people truly wanted to get around the ban, it is possible, but it would take too much time and would still have many faults. Eventually, after a year, the app will fizzle out like a sad firecracker as it loses what made it popular: fun, easy, accessible, and relatable.
I first downloaded TikTok when I was in seventh grade, though I only became active a year later. Gradually, TikTok began to take up more and more of my time, until eventually, it became a critical part of my lifestyle. I’m on it every day for over an hour, though in my defense, that is a common trend among US teenagers: Two in three American teenagers spend at least an hour on TikTok per day.
Yet even through I am aware of some of my unhealthy habits involving TikTok, I don’t believe it should be banned. I have laughed and cried on the app, and by watching other people post their content, I was able to connect with a community that shared my similar interests. I was surrounded by a community on the app who made me feel seen. I look up to and respect certain influencers. I have comfort creators who have genuinely added a spot of sunshine to a day that would otherwise have been awful. There are creators on the app who motivate me to work on myself, to increase my productivity, to expand my interests, to connect with others with similar passions.
Through TikTok, I have discovered so many new musicians and songs, building up a dream playlist one audio at a time. Through TikTok, I learned about what is actually happening in the world, whether it’s about Hollywood or international relations between powerful countries or conspiracy theories about who really was Jack the Ripper. Through TikTok, I absorbed information about different art and writing techniques and listed the hidden gems in small countries that lack exposure. I have learned about other cultures by watching “Day in my Life” vlogs. I have stumbled across virtually any video regarding any topic, from the planet Neptune to K-pop dances to ganache art to cooking in college. I have watched so many people share personal experiences I used to think were unique to me.
I know that I am not the only one who felt like the horizons of their world were expanded through TikTok. I have countless friends who watch similar content as me. I have filmed dances and other trends with those friends. I have laughed at silly videos with them, and in a way, through the act of sending TikToks to each other, I have been able to facilitate a better connection and understanding with them.
And even without my personal attachments to TikTok, it’s widely acknowledged that the app supports countless creators. Many people would lose a source of income once the app were banned. Companies and entrepreneurs will be deprived of one of their biggest, easiest platforms to gain exposure on products. After all, according to March 2024 data from TikTok, more than seven million small US businesses use it, driving up revenue by $15 billion in 2023. So many people with unique talents will have to find other platforms to gain a wider audience. The hidden impact of banning TikTok will be a hit on the overall economy.
Unknowingly and gradually, TikTok has integrated itself into my life. Yes, I could move onto Instagram reels, but it’s simply not the same. Reels are more curated, more fitted to content creators with a larger platform, more suitable for promotions — it doesn’t have the same human connection as TikTok. TikTok has always been the more casual, entertainment-focused app, reaching huge audiences and allowing people to gain fame overnight.
Even though the bill passed, it infringes on First Amendment rights, especially regarding the right to freedom of speech. I really do believe the US government shouldn’t have passed this bill. They would save themselves a lot of lawsuits, but more importantly, TikTok is a powerful platform that hosts a diverse range of content. Though it has clear negatives, its positives far outweigh. Banning TikTok would really be a shame for society.
by CHELSEA GUO