TikTok was created in 2016 and has taken the world by storm, becoming one of the world’s most popular social media sites with over one billion daily users. People from all over the world have joined the platform and have created accounts to share videos with others. However, despite its popularity, TikTok could soon be banned in the United States.
The decision to ban such a popular site has been in the making for the past three years over concerns about national security. TikTok’s parent company ByteDance allegedly has access to the personal data of millions of Americans, and matters are made worse with government involvement and ownership of the company. Because of the potential security threat, several US states, the federal government, and other countries worldwide have banned TikTok on government devices.
Both Republicans and Democrats have come together in support of a ban and grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in a hearing on March 23rd about privacy threats that the app posed. The hearing lasted eight hours, and TikTok may now remain with two options: sell or face a potential ban. Chew did little to reassure American lawmakers of user safety on TikTok, which could force a sale of TikTok from parent company ByteDance to prevent an American ban, according to tech analyst Dan Ives.
If the United States does ban TikTok, it will have aftereffects as well. There are two areas that a TikTok ban will have major effects on that will directly affect the American public. Like every story, there will always be good and bad, so what would a TikTok ban do in America?
The Good: Stronger National Security
If TikTok is banned, the US will have potentially eliminated a national cybersecurity threat. TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has ties to the Chinese government, which potentially gives access to the personal data of millions of Americans directly to China. A TikTok ban would not only protect American citizens, but it could elevate America’s position over China, who has been a worthy partner and rival to the United States in private and public affairs.
The Bad: An Infringement on the Free Market
While a TikTok ban would help tighten American national security, there would be a tradeoff and that comes regarding the free market. TikTok has opened a whole slew of financial opportunities for Americans, through sponsorships with brands and promotion of goods and skills from many talented Americans. A TikTok ban would likely hurt economic growth for private citizens, and while there are plenty of other social media sites to work from, a ban would result in a substantial loss for entrepreneurs, many of whom are young.
The RESTRICT Act is gaining more and more bipartisan support by the day as the potential threat to national security becomes more worrying. However, while a ban would be good in some respects, it still represents government intervention in private business and the free market. There is still a good chance TikTok does not get banned, and there will likely be a court challenge if a ban is approved, but only time will tell what happens next for TikTok.
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