“Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now” were the few powerful, and possibly devastating words that millions of its users were met with upon opening the app this past January. While the app became accessible again shortly after, the fate of its remain in the country depends on an executive federal order that requires it to be sold out of its current Chinese-owned company, ByteDance. While the banning of the popular app could help mend the ongoing mental health crisis and protect the country’s security, it can also be seen as a violation of individual rights and overestimation of the actual amount of data collected compared to other social media networks.
In this article, we discuss the following question: Should TikTok be banned?
The TikTok ban was implemented in the US for half a day on January 18, 2025. The Conversation
Support: TikTok should be banned!
1. Mental health concerns
Over the past decade, teenagers have become more invested in social media platforms, which have been tied to a decrease in social skills and serious mental health issues. Eliminating such an addicting and life-threatening platform could be the first step in solving the teen mental health crisis in America. For example, the banning of TikTok could lead to a reduction in screen times, forcing individuals to pursue other passions in the time that they would’ve spent scrolling on the app. This could increase social time and productivity rates, especially amongst teenagers, which could greatly improve the current mental health crisis that lies within this age group.
2. Fake news, propaganda, and Chinese influence
TikTok is a part of the much larger Chinese conglomerate ByteDance, which is headquartered in Beijing. China’s national security laws allow them access to private company data if necessary and the U.S. cannot risk its greatest international rival gaining access to information about American consumers. China could potentially collect data on American viewing preferences, IP addresses, and even browser histories. In addition to getting information on U.S. activities, China could also potentially spread fake news and pro-Chinese propaganda through TikTok, weakening the U.S. from within.
Opposition: TikTok should not be banned!
1. A threat to free speech and digital rights
Banning TikTok is a violation of free speech and the right to access information—two fundamental principles in a democratic society. The platform has previously served as a space for self-expression and exchange of diverse perspectives, and just as individuals have the right to speak their minds, they have the right to consume information freely. Restricting access to TikTok sets a dangerous precedent for government overreach. While concerns about data privacy and national security should be addressed, these issues do not justify the outright censorship of an entire platform that connects people in the US to the rest of the world, especially since millions rely on TikTok for communication, activism, and creative expression.
2. TikTok collects a comparable amount of private information to other social media networks
Concerns about TikTok’s data collection are often overstated when compared to other major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. These platforms gather similar, if not greater, amounts of user data. Singling out TikTok while ignoring the similar data practices of American tech giants reflects a selective and biased approach to privacy concerns rather than a genuine effort to protect user data. If policymakers are truly concerned about digital privacy, the solution should be more comprehensive rather than banning a single app.
→ There are several other reasons why one might support the TikTok ban, as well as reasons to oppose it. What are your thoughts about “The Ban of TikTok”? Go to <https://bit.ly/CTMar2025> or scan the QR code and tell us where you stand! Votes are collected until March 15th, 2025, and results will be released in the April 2025 issue of The Tattler.
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