TikTok has become more than just a source of entertainment—it is a platform for creativity, connection, and self-expression, especially among young people. With growing calls for the app’s ban, it is important to understand why such a move would be misguided.
Banning TikTok would not only limit an essential creative outlet but also fail to address the broader issues of privacy and data manipulation that affect all social media platforms. Rather than focusing on TikTok alone, efforts should be directed at addressing these concerns across the entire industry.
One of the primary arguments in favor of banning TikTok is its alleged threat to national security, particularly due to its ownership by ByteDance, a Chinese company. Critics argue that the Chinese government could use the app to access data on American users, posing a risk to privacy and security.
However, this argument fails to account for the fact that the CEO of TikTok is Singaporean, not Chinese. Shou Zi Chew, who oversees the platform, has a background in global markets, and TikTok has already implemented significant safeguards to protect user data.
For example, the app has established a data center in Texas to ensure that U.S. user information remains stored domestically, separate from Chinese influence.
Furthermore, if concerns about data privacy are the primary issue, banning TikTok is an inadequate solution. U.S.-based companies, such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, have a history of similarly questionable practices when it comes to user data.
In fact, Meta’s involvement in the Cambridge Analytica scandal—where millions of users’ personal information was harvested without consent—serves as a stark reminder that American companies are also prone to manipulating data for profit.
These companies track users’ browsing habits, locations, and even personal preferences to serve targeted ads, and yet they continue to operate without the same level of scrutiny that TikTok faces.
The issue is not about the country of origin of the company behind the app but the broader practices of data collection and manipulation that extend across the tech industry. TikTok is no different from these other platforms in this regard, and banning it would do little to protect user privacy or address the systemic problems in social media.
In addition to privacy concerns, there are those who argue that TikTok should be banned due to the content it promotes. Some Republican politicians have called for a ban or the transformation of TikTok into a more educational platform, similar to the version that exists in China.
In China, the government has imposed strict regulations on social media, ensuring that the content shared on platforms like TikTok is educational and promotes state-approved values. These politicians argue that the U.S. should adopt a similar approach, turning TikTok into a platform for educational content rather than the more entertainment-driven content that characterizes the app today.
However, this suggestion raises serious concerns about government overreach. The U.S. has long valued the freedom of expression, and government intervention in content creation and distribution runs contrary to these principles.
The idea of transforming TikTok into a state-influenced platform echoes concerns about censorship and the manipulation of information for political gain. A move toward government control of social media content would undermine the very freedoms that make platforms like TikTok so valuable.
Rather than forcing platforms to conform to a specific political agenda, efforts should focus on encouraging critical thinking and media literacy, empowering users to discern what content is credible and meaningful.
Another common criticism of TikTok is its potential to waste time and distract students from their academic responsibilities. While it is true that TikTok can be addictive, this is not unique to the app. Social media in general, whether it is Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, has the potential to be distracting.
The solution is not to ban TikTok but to teach young people how to use it responsibly. Schools should incorporate digital literacy programs that emphasize the importance of balancing social media use with other activities and responsibilities.
The call to ban TikTok fails to address the underlying issues of data privacy, content regulation, and the role of government in controlling social media platforms. Instead of focusing on banning TikTok, efforts should be directed at holding all social media companies accountable for their data practices and ensuring that privacy protections are in place across the industry.