When TikTok went down Saturday night, I found myself in a state of panic. Did I really just lose my connection to over a billion people? Where would I hear about current events? Where would I get my recipes or my book and movie suggestions? Where would I find discussions on my niche interests or laugh ridiculously at videos perfectly tailored to my sense of humor? Despite my spiraling, I barely had time to truly mourn the app, as it was miraculously resuscitated on Sunday morning. However, the app still faces an imminent ban if it doesn’t cut a deal with an American company before the 75 day extension ends.
Until then, Americans, like myself, will be desperately pleading for this app to remain available.
The truly beautiful thing about TikTok is the freedom of speech, expression and debate that keeps users engaging in meaningful conversation. It also creates space for anyone’s video to go viral, giving the chance for regular, everyday people to have their voices heard and potentially make an impact. It has even allowed different causes to gain traction and reach a wider audience, raising awareness and funds, like for the victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict or the recent Los Angeles wildfires.
Aside from that, the simple fact of TikTok is that it’s fun. Its infinite supply of content about current events, celebrities, travel, hobbies, television, sports and everything in between provides a level of connection and entertainment previously unheard of. TikTok allows for discussion and engagement between users on opposite sides of the globe. It is where many people go to talk about their favorite TV shows, share advice, engage in debate, and consume funny videos, which, for many users, can provide a stark contrast to mundane or even grim day-to-day life. For me, even the simple feeling of knowing that I am using the app alongside billions of people makes me feel more connected to the world around me. As trends take TikTok by storm in the form of language, music and clothing, it leaves the feeling that we are all part of a greater community.
Because of its popularity, TikTok also acts as the lifeblood of the careers of entrepreneurs and content creators. The ability to market to a wider audience at a much faster rate than commercials and physical advertisements creates a wider opportunity for the success of these businesses. Some even make their money solely off of being influencers and creating content specifically for TikTok. To rip this carpet out from under the people who rely on it for their income and career success would be an ill-conceived move. For a country that remains faithful to its beloved American Dream, this impending ban makes the “Land of Opportunity” look awfully hypocritical.
While keeping the app around for its invaluable cultural impact seems like a no-brainer, the arguments against the app’s presence in the U.S. are rational. The U.S. government’s reasoning behind the ban is to protect Americans from their data being used by the Chinese government. This threat remains hypothetical as of now, though its not impossible.
Another argument against the popularization of TikTok and other social media platforms is their effect on mental health and attention span. Endearing terms like “rotting” or “doomscrolling” characterize the habit of bingeing the app’s infinite For You Page, mindlessly consuming hours and hours of content. The time spent on TikTok can even pull away from time spent working, engaging in fulfilling hobbies and spending time with loved ones. This detriment is not lost on most TikTok users, with many, myself included, vowing to go crack a book when the app went dark over the weekend. Truthfully, the threat TikTok poses to the mental acuity and wellbeing of its users is a reasonable concern.
That being said, it is unacceptable to pry this app away from the hands of Americans without providing them much of a choice. It does not seem right for our government to tell Americans what app they can or cannot use, nor does it seem right to sever Americans from one of the richest, most vibrant hubs of activity and culture in the world. Conveniently enough, this Tiktok ban is reminiscent of the kind of government restrictions present in countries like China. While Americans gawk at the kinds of extreme censorship that happen in China, our red, white and blue colored glasses have left us oblivious to the fact the U.S. government is capable of the same kind of limitations. Our country prides itself on the fundamentals of freedom and choice, and TikTok’s presence in the U.S. should fall under those principles. Maybe TikTok poses a threat, or maybe it does not. Bottom line, it does not matter. Americans are accountable. Americans know what is best for themselves. Americans deserve the right to choose.
