Introduction
TikTok is one of the most common applications globally, with a massive number of users, the majority of them being children and teens, who upload, watch, lip-sync, and browse videos and memes. TikTok, a Chinese company creation, lets subscribers submit up to 60-second lip-synched short videos with innovative and engaging features (Weimann and Natalie 752). It is the quickest-growing app and the sixth most installed app in the last ten years. However, this app has a sinister aspect that has caused controversy that calls for its banning in various states and nations.
Some specifically defend TikTok’s existence because they feel it contains no more hazardous content than other social platforms and that efforts to remove it are unlawful. Those who oppose the app’s operation, on the other hand, argue that TikTok represents a danger to national security by acting as a deception arm of the Chinese Communist Party. Given TikTok’s negative influence on teenage mental health, privacy concerns, and propensity to perpetuate bad patterns and problems, a ban on TikTok is required to safeguard and minimize its negative consequences.
The Case for a TikTok Ban: Addressing National Security and Social Concerns
Data Privacy Concerns: Risk of Data Mining and Governmental Access
Due to the fact that TikTok is a Chinese-owned app, there may be a risk of data mining and the Chinese government having accessibility to information about subscribers, and this calls for its banning. Evidence indicates that as a social networking site, TikTok gathers a variety of information from its over one billion users (Touma). This information includes elements like IP address, favored classes, geographical location, and content usage (Touma).
Furthermore, by uploading monitored bots to the app, Chinese authorities may certainly retrieve device data on TikTok (Touma). This data is necessary to fuel the app’s algorithm, which generates numerous video suggestions. This extremely private user information runs the possibility of ending up in the Chinese Communist Group’s inbox during an international dispute between any feuding nations. As such, this has unavoidably grown to be a cause of fear for both Europeans and Americans.
Safety Risks: The Potential Harmful Effects of TikTok’s Content on Young Users
The content of TikTok may raise safety issues for young users. Due to COVID-19, TikTok can have a negative impact on young people’s health and social development if there is no physical interaction with friends. The measurement of favorable responses to postings on social media frequently involves counting the multitude of followers and likes that a post has received. Such actions have an impact on one’s confidence and self-worth and may cause emotions of insufficiency (Bahnweg and Hatim 3).
However, failing to get a large number of fans and “likes” might make individuals feel even worse regarding themselves (Bahnweg and Hatim 3). TikTok material may thereby affect young people to suicide and self-harm. On TikTok media platforms, the live video feature frequently gets around copyright restrictions. Live streaming of taboo events like attempted suicides may be horrifying and traumatic on one hand while also helping to prevent suicide from becoming more commonplace.
Some detractors contend that the content of TikTok might negatively affect young users, contributing to problems including body image difficulties, unreasonable expectations, and excessive time spent on screens. Adolescence is a time when body image is a crucial topic. Thus, the way TikTok media has covered this major problem has given rise to unrealistic body image standards that are acceptable in society. These expectations have, over time, had a detrimental effect on both the physical and mental health of adolescents (Bahnweg and Hatim 3). These TikTok users have the ability to edit, enhance, and enhance images and videos immediately. Thus, such TikTok elements give rise to aesthetic beauty, which may negatively impact mental health and social conduct in an environment that values antagonism and competition.
In addition, a lot of the material on TikTok revolves around weight reduction, fitness obstacles, and even eating problems. Despite the fact that some of the information provided might appear legit, videos on “what I eat in a day: binge eating” may be displayed by the algorithm as a result of the material on “what I eat in a day” can be detrimental (Bahnweg and Hatim 3). Those dealing with disorders of eating or body image issues, as well as sensitive teenagers who could be learning about these issues in their initial encounters with the app, can be negatively impacted.
Intellectual Property Issues: Alleged Violations of Copyright Laws
Conflicts over intellectual property rights have arisen as a result of claims that TikTok was hosting copyrighted content without the required license. A common instance of copyright infringement in modern culture is when someone reposts a video without giving credit to the original uploader or owner. TikTok subscribers have the goal to submit a range of engaging and timely material since it is one of the most advanced platforms, which enables quicker gaining of viewers, followers, and likes.
Due to this aim, many TikTok users re-upload data or videos that were previously seen on other people’s YouTube channels in violation of copyrighted works. As a result, fans are forced to watch re-uploaded films on TikTok rather than on the creator’s YouTube account (Rahma and Siti 165). It is frequent for copyright violations to occur on this site, which is unfortunate for the primary submitter since the video is exploited commercially to make illicit gains.
Time Management Concerns: The Impact of TikTok on Productivity
Similar to other social networking sites, TikTok can result in time wastage. Everyone is acting like an actor or actress, which might lead to their staying on the platform too long. As a result, they copy and duplicate current trends, challenges, and memes. Since it becomes accustomed to mimicking, this will eventually cause them to live a reel existence apart from reality.
Additionally, this will be a waste of time and encourages phone addiction among those who believe they will become well-known in the future. The amusing videos on TikTok that give temporary pleasant excitation and the endless scrolling screen that makes it simple to access additional videos are aspects that encourage addiction (Brasington 35). This is due to the app’s tendency to encourage users to view “just one more” video, which encourages a never-ending loop of video reels.
Free Speech Debate: The Case for Repealing the TikTok Ban
However, others who are in favor of the TikTok anti-ban argue that its repeal may be regarded as an infringement on people’s freedoms of speech and expression. Many subscribers like sharing material with a large following and value the platform’s ingenuity. Therefore, they believe prohibiting TikTok would create a risky precedent for censorship and government meddling in people’s lives.
Furthermore, supporters of anti-ban underscore that social media is a crucial instrument for community development, expression in the modern digital age, and communication (Wong et al. 257). TikTok’s prohibition would thus send a message to other authorities that it is permissible to control and prohibit social media sites. This would be an undesirable precedent and a setback for individual liberties and freedom of expression. However, this idea might be rebuffed because TikTok is a private corporation, not a government organization.
Governmental Restrictions and Free Speech: Balancing Regulation with Rights
Governmental measures that restrict communication are often subject to free speech safeguards (Gehan 91). To ensure a secure and satisfying user encounter on their platforms, private firms have the authority to establish their own content regulations and guidelines.
Furthermore, TikTok disproves the idea that the app’s privacy and security concerns are disingenuous and can be handled without a full ban of the app. Advocates stress that TikTok gathers user data just like any other social media network. There is no proof, though, that TikTok is misusing this information in any way.
In reality, in acknowledgment of concerns voiced by authorities and users, TikTok has improved its privacy and security procedures. As an illustration, it has employed security experts while simultaneously rendering its source code accessible for analysis by other specialists. Governments ought to collaborate with TikTok to guarantee that the data of its users is secured rather than completely prohibiting the app.
However, this notion is inconsistent with a survey by the Australian-US cybersecurity company Internet 2.0, which discovered that the most prominent social networking app of the year gathers unreasonably quantities of user data (Touma). In light of this, cybersecurity specialists have warned consumers of TikTok that the Chinese government may utilize the app to collect personal data, including friend-to-friend in-app communications and exact device locations.
The Harmful Effects: Evaluating the Negative Consequences of Using TikTok
The aforementioned proof shows that using TikTok has hurt more people than it has helped. As a result, there may be a way to resolve the problem, and the negative impacts of TikTok must be observed in light of that fundamental issue. Given that dictates have had difficulty putting strong constraints on the actions of this application, it is necessary to examine the potential causes of this issue.
In particular, the US should respond by enacting legislation that requires privacy and responsibility from all digital businesses. Therefore, in its discussions with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States over security issues, TikTok should try to resolve both distressing areas (Editorial Board). The business must be ready to subject its algorithms for recommendation to monitoring and to store its data solely on American-based Oracle servers.
Furthermore, numerous social media sites have adopted the TikTok reel approach because of the quick advancement of technology. As a result, even if TikTok is outlawed, a large number of users will go to Facebook or other applications with a similar user interface. Additionally, consumers think that as long as they have a smartphone, they are free to limit how much time they spend on social media. Therefore, attempting to outlaw TikTok in order to lessen the app’s negative consequences would not have any negative repercussions, but it can inspire individuals to investigate alternative platforms in great detail.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both proponents and critics of the TikTok ban have significant points that warrant consideration. The debate suggests that in order to support data privacy and autonomy, TikTok security measures must be implemented as soon as possible. Therefore, it is possible to enact harsh laws surrounding TikTok usage in the US, especially making it difficult for young people to use and gain access.
Additionally, those who use TikTok less frequently have healthier lifestyles and fewer privacy concerns. In this situation, the government must take active steps to stop widespread TikTok use. The stakeholders might suggest buying the app to restrict its availability in the US. Beyond limiting access to the app for the general public, Americans need to take responsibility for their lifestyle and welfare. It is crucial to create boundaries and utilize the app carefully.
Works Cited
Bahnweg, Erica, and Hatim Omar. “Effects of TikTok on Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing.” Journal of Health, vol. 10, no. 1, 2023, pp. 1-7. Web.
Brasington, Andrew. “Social Media Influences our Organic Rhythms in the Context of Neoliberal Capitalism: An Exploration into Performative Consumption Through TikTok.” The Owl–Florida State University’s Undergraduate Research Journal, vol. 11, no.1, 2020, pp. 29-37. Web.
Editorial, Board. “Don’t Ban TikTok. Make It Safer for the Country.” Washington Post. 2023. Web.
Gehan Gunatilleke. Justifying Limitations on the Freedom of Expression. Human Rights Review, no. 1, 2021, pp. 91–108. Web.
Rahma, Arina Nafida, and Siti Mahmudah. “Legal Protection of Copyright of YouTube Content Re-uploaded on TikTok,” International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, vol. 28, no. 1, 2022, pp. 165-170. Web.
Touma, Rafqa. “TikTok Has Been Accused of ‘Aggressive’ Data Harvesting. Is Your Information at Risk?” The Guardian, 2022. Web.
Weimann, Gabriel, and Natalie Masri. “Research note: Spreading hate on TikTok.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, vol. 46, no. 5, 2023, pp. 752-765. Web.
Wong, Adrian, et al. “The Use of Social Media and Online Communications in Times of Pandemic COVID-19.” Journal of the Intensive Care Society, vol. 22, no. 3, 2021, pp. 255-260. Web.