On March 23, 2023, Tiktok CEO Shou Chew testified before Congress regarding the United States’ proposed ban on the social media platform nationwide. Ethical issues surrounding social media platforms, especially ones based in China, have been widely discussed in varying fields, with concerns regarding privacy, content, and even the safety of children, taking center stage. It comes as no surprise that there are many proponents of the ban or heavy restrictions on such platforms. However, banning platforms such as Tiktok does not fully address these issues.
One of the main factors of the proposed TikTok ban is privacy issues on the platform. Like many social media applications, Tiktok has a variety of ways to access users’ personal information, from algorithm searches to the information users have inputted into the app itself, like their date of birth and address. However, these privacy issues are not exclusive to Tiktok, as they are also issues on Facebook, Snapchat, or even Youtube. All social media platforms have easy access to user data, and the selling of such information is a significant factor in their profitability. It is an issue that will be perpetuated even with Tiktok’s absence because nothing on the internet can be considered truly private in the modern age. To truly fix this issue, regulations have to be made to all social media platforms as a whole, which has been attempted and has not truly succeeded in the past.
However, it is likely true that the main reason for the Tiktok ban was targeted due to its ties to China, although Tiktok denies sharing its data to the Chinese government. It is an understandable concern for the US government for that, but by banning Tiktok, it sets a new precedent for the way the government approaches social media platforms, or just internet platforms in general. Banning Tiktok blurs the line for the first amendment, which grants freedom of speech. By banning a massive platform for people to express themselves, it will only grant the government even further control over the internet.
Another reason for the Tiktok ban was the predatory nature of its algorithm, which is specifically tailored to keep users engaged. But yet again, this issue does not lie within just Tiktok, but all social media apps. While Tiktok is the pioneer of short-form video content, the tactic has already been employed on other platforms, such as Youtube shorts or Instagram reels. This type of content is especially addicting to users, especially those in the younger generations. Not to mention, much of the content on Tiktok is also posted on these other platforms as well, which the ban does not target.
Proponents of the ban on Tiktok also argue that the platform is harmful to children, causing a variety of negative issues, such as body dysmorphia, misinformation, and much more. Yet again, this issue is again prevalent in all social media. Regulations surrounding the signing up of social media for children should be encouraged instead to solve this issue. Signing up for such platforms should be authorized by kids’ parents , which can provide an opportunity for parents to educate their children about such platforms and better regulate the content their children are exposed to.
Overall, Tiktok’s proposed ban cannot fully address the problems it presents, and other methods are better used to benefit society, such as better regulations for algorithms and sign-ups for the app.