With the April ruling of the potential ban of social media app TikTok in the United States, the Chinese-based owner of the app, ByteDance, has until Jan. 19 to sell the app to a non-Chinese based company in order to prevent the ban. Recently, the ban has taken the United States by storm as the app’s final weeks are approaching.
If ByteDance does not sign the app over to a different company, the banishment of TikTok will be detrimental to not only its users, but the economy as well. Some of TikTok’s creators have accumulated over 100 million followers, allowing them to make TikTok their full time job. It is estimated the ban will cause the app to lose over $1 billion in revenue and the seven million small businesses who market on TikTok will lose over $300 million.
As there is no app similar to it, TikTok’s unique style gives users the freedom to post dances, edits, tips, trends, promotions, music and potential to inspire others. The diverse content found on TikTok allows users to connect with others who share similar interests, even building long-term and potentially life-long friendships. The comfort of knowing someone who understands and can connect with you on a favorite interest can give a therapeutic peace of mind to anyone.
People and politicians who favor the ban of TikTok have mentioned the platform’s controversies regarding children. Though the app is labeled for users 13 years old and older, the app still has a high rate of younger users who are prone to be easily influenced by what they are seeing online. However, if parents are giving their young children access to social media, it is not ByteDance’s responsibility for the actions they take outside of the app. If parents do decide to give their children access to apps that are labeled above the child’s age, they need to monitor what they are seeing and who can contact them, which TikTok has available in their settings.
The banning of TikTok directly interferes with the Second Amendment right to freedom of expression, not allowing users to watch and create content that themselves and others enjoy. Furthermore, it could increase the United States’ tension with China, resulting in accusations of discrimination and the banning of other Chinese-based apps and products.
To prevent more negative relations with China and keep the United States from further controversy, ByteDance should sell the company to a trustworthy operator in another country. TikTok relies heavily on the United States for profit as it makes 55% of their total income from the United States alone. Though for its users, it’s more than just about money – it’s about having a platform to be themselves on.
