The app we all know and love, TikTok, has become a staple piece of modern culture. From providing inspiration and entertainment to creating communities and income opportunities, this app has become a source of comfort for many and is deeply integrated into many lives.
Let’s be honest: This app is far from perfect, being a platform where people constantly compare themselves to others and containing hateful content. But banning the platform altogether is going too far.
CBS News stated the rationale for the ban was due to “U.S. officials…repeatedly [warning] that TikTok threatens national security because the Chinese government could use it as a vehicle to spy on Americans.”
TikTok has opened many doors for countless people, offering them the chance to earn income through creating content. It has created ways for people to turn their hobbies into full-time careers. Banning the app would take away this lifeline for thousands of people. San Rafael senior Naomi Sitver said, “TikTok allows creators to gain visibility and inspire others. It isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about opportunity.”
One thing to recognize is that this app is more than just a distraction. “I use TikTok to discover new things to try or to pass time,” said Naomi. Like many, she uses it for both entertainment and exposure to new things. TikTok encourages self-improvement, a place where people learn new things and are shown how to better themselves. As SRHS senior Maddie Jensen said, “TikTok built up my motivation to go to the gym and eat healthy.”
But there is still a dark side to it. That is covered up through the many good things that it provides for young and older people today. Though, the dark is outweighed by the positive, especially knowing that TikTok is far from the worst or most dangerous social media app.
TikTok has transformed the social media perspective by allowing ordinary people to build careers as content creators, which is great because it gives everyone a chance to achieve fame and earn money, not just celebrities or influencers with big connections. On other apps this is less likely to happen, making TikTok special. These creators bring inspiration and new ideas to the minds of the viewers. As SRHS senior Griffin Madden said, “The cool part about TikTok is that your for you page (FYP) is specific to you and what you like.” It personalizes each user’s feed based on what you like and don’t like making each page unique. But because of this, it creates a cycle of endless scrolling.
One big concern about TikTok is its impact on mental health. Yes, the platform can be addictive, and, yes, it can create insecurities. But it can also be a source of support, comfort, and education. Griffin, who has seen how the app can benefit others, pointed out how videos promoting businesses have helped bring attention to them. The platform is not just about the dances and trends, but also creativity and change.
Mental health challenges exist regardless if the platform is around or not. Maddie points out how there should be a higher age limit on when people can get TikTok, which can help prevent the starting of comparison so early on. But comparison is inevitable. So we could advocate for stricter filters to keep out more hate, bullying, and misinformation. As Naomi and Maddie both discussed, tighter content regulation could go a long way in helping bring more positive outcomes out of TikTok.
TikTok was banned for less than a day, and everyone was already talking about new apps to move to. So, banning TikTok would only lead people to find another app that can have similar aspects as TikTok, as Naomi pointed out. Forcing people to migrate to another app is not going to solve the problem.
People are too reliant on TikTok for sure. I know I am. But, it is a valuable resource sometimes. “Creating a time limit on it could help,” said Maddie. A limit created by the managers of TikTok, could be a good option. Even though you can set a screen time for yourself on TikTok through settings, it allows you to press a button saying “ignore limit for today,” so oftentimes people can find themselves pressing that. So if the limit on TikTok was actually by them, there would be no way to get around this limit.
While TikTok does offer a lot of benefits, it is not without its downsides. The platform has become a big place for misinformation where many people are prone to fall for it, as Griffin admitted to. Like during the election, the BBC found that “young voters in key election battlegrounds are being recommended fake AI-generated videos featuring party leaders.” Viral videos like these can easily spread false information that can be harmful to others. The FYP’s that are specific to the viewer, can become addictive to watch and can lead to hours of scrolling. TikTok also has the reputation of creating false beauty standards.
So maybe social media is just more bad than good. It allows for people to be sucked into false news along with social standards that are unrealistic. But something that is also unrealistic is getting rid of all social media together. It is so engraved into our society that it would be very unlikely that it could all be taken away.
TikTok has become a significant part of many people’s lives. Banning it entirely is an overreaction that overlooks its positive aspects. The price of social media is sometimes worth it. No matter what app or if it happens in person, everyone will always receive some kind of hate, and people will always compare themselves no matter what. TikTok is an app where people can seek to be the greater versions of themselves and express themselves greater than any other app. As Associate Professor Jess McLean found through research, “using TikTok helps [kids] to nurture relationships, find support, express themselves and become more aware of their privilege and social issues around the globe.”
I get the concern about the app, especially for the younger viewers who might feel pressure to keep up with influencers or perfect ideals. But all these bad qualities TikTok has, are present in all the other social media platforms. So why TikTok specifically? If this platform is bad, we might as well shut down Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook. All social media comes with a price, the pressure to compare.
