On the night of Jan. 18, something happened that sent users of the popular social media app, TikTok, into a frenzy. After months of rumors, countless goodbye videos, and the frantic search for a new social media platform, TikTok was finally banned by an order of the US government in an attempt to regulate the national security concerns that TikTok created. After this ban, users could not view or create videos on TikTok and were sure that it would never return. To everyone’s surprise, this ban was short-lived, only lasting about twelve hours before users could access the app again. The Bagpiper believes that while it is a good idea to take precautionary measures regarding security on social media, banning an app entirely will not solve that problem, especially when there are many benefits that come with using TikTok.
While social media is a place where users can express themselves, one of the biggest concerns has come into play over the last several months, with one of the biggest platforms in the world, cybersecurity. TikTok is an app that was founded by Singaporean native Shou Chew. The claim on the app is that it is Chinese-owned and due to American civilians on the platform China has its user’s private information. Although its two headquarters are based out of Los Angeles and Singapore, the shareowner ByteDance is a Chinese-founded privately owned company, not necessarily TikTok itself. If they are willing to ban a Chinese-owned app to protect our information, why can’t an American-owned business buy it from China?
Although the Supreme Court made this ruling to benefit our own safety and protection, this is not the most efficient way to keep the app users away from their security concerns. This has only created an uproar in disappointment and frustration with our Supreme Court system. Many creators on the app made posting TikTok’s their career, whether it was unemployment, getting laid off, or simply creating content that they enjoy many people have created a following due to being an influencer on the platform.
Sophomore Bryson Cook mentioned how he is glad TikTok is back. He elaborates that posting content on TikTok was some people’s jobs, so he is glad it is back up and running. He also says it is an entertainment source for most, therefore it was great it came back.
Additionally, many activists rely on posting TikTok’s order to raise awareness to certain social issues they are passionate about. Whether people approve of the app or not, using the platform in short video format is an efficient way to make people aware of problems in our society, such as women’s rights, racial inequality, and the safety of LGBTQ+ teens. With the ability to reach millions and millions of users, activists can utilize TikTok to educate the public on current events and provide information on how users can help people in need. If creators gain enough popularity on a video, they can even raise money for the cause of their choosing. This is one of the many benefits of utilizing an app like TikTok.
This is not the end of the TikTok ban. According to USA Today, President Trump issued a 75 day extension to halt the ban on TikTok on Jan. 20, 2024. During this period of time, the national security concerns will be looked into by the appropriate departments. Ultimately, the concerns about the security of users on TikTok are valid, but with creators utilizing the app for their careers, to promote activism, and as a main source of entertainment, banning the app is not the solution that creators on TikTok want.