Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
Arguably one of the most influential social media platforms, TikTok, is facing legal backlash.
TikTok is a video platform owned by ByteDance, a Chinese internet company. The House of Representatives and Senate are claiming that the ban is all in the name of national security as ByteDance can collect and misuse user data, according to Forbes.
The case formed from accusations posed by former President Donald Trump and the FBI in 2020, and the investigation officially started March 17, 2023. The investigation, led by the Department of Justice and FBI, was founded because TikTok was spying on American journalists.
The issue in this case isn’t whether government entities have the right to collect individual data and personal information. It’s whether foreign government entities do.
The American government, whether we consent to it or not, constantly collects our data, according to the Government Accountability Office. We enter our bank account information for our Apple Wallets, our phone numbers and email addresses for our contacts and countless sensitive and personal information in our Notes app.
The American government has access to all of that, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
As technology advances, so do the arguments against it. In the age of Artificial Intelligence, copyrights and media, American citizens are becoming more keenly aware of “personal security.”
Although the TikTok ban is being construed as violating American privacy, freedom of speech and personal security are still protected. As Americans, we have the freedom of speech, and TikTok is using that argument for why the app should not be banned, according to the National Constitution Center.
However, the government is not banning TikTok because of what is being posted. All speech, whether positive or negative, is not on trial. What is on trial is whether ByteDance is illegally using American’s data for their gain.
Americans will still have the right to exercise free speech on countless other social media sites.
Regardless of whether one believes the American government is violating the First Amendment or that China is stealing TikTok user data, there still is a very possible reality that Americans will be without TikTok.
And I think that’s a good thing.
For one of my many New Year’s resolutions, I decided to take a break from TikTok for 31 days. I realized I was spending way too much time on it, and I just needed a break from the constant content that was being thrown at me at an insane speed.
For those 31 days, I was forced to divert my attention elsewhere. Instead of mindlessly scrolling in between classes, I went outside. Instead of staying up extra hours on the app, I went to bed at reasonable times. I was replacing my unhealthy TikTok screen time with activities that benefited my well-being.
TikTok has significantly distorted users’ attention spans and has trained them to rely on extremely short content for entertainment.
I’ve caught myself constantly having to pause my TV shows and movies because I simply can’t watch a video for an extended time. This makes sense considering the average length of a TikTok short is 24-31 seconds.
Along with the new time management, I also experienced a rare sense of peace.
On TikTok, users are constantly being exposed to a limitless amount of information and opinions. And most of them are often contradictory to one another. This constant back-and-forth often confused my thoughts and opinions.
When I took a break from TikTok, I was able to fully sort out my own opinions and not rely on random influencers to deliver them for me.
Is it unfortunate that Americans might lose a favorite social media platform? Absolutely. The fun dances and niche videos from creators will most definitely be missed.
However, this ban might create a break for better mental and physical self-care, which we all desperately need.
___________________
Follow the Graphic on X: @PeppGraphic
Contact Shalom Montgomery via email: shalom.montgomery@pepperdine.edu
