Don't Blame ByteDance

Whether it is through a new dance trend, skits, lip-syncing out-of-pocket audios, or Ice Spice dropping her latest banger, you’ve probably heard of the viral app TikTok, a social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos with audio and camera filters. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, and has become increasingly popular in recent years among younger audiences. Just recently a Congress hearing took place regarding a potential TikTok ban and how the existence of the app poses a major threat to the privacy, security, and safety of children around the world. In the hearing, Representative Richard Hudson from North Carolina asked the CEO of TikTok, “Mr. Chew, does TikTok access the home Wi-Fi network?” Visibly confused, Chew replied, “Only if the user turns on the Wi-Fi.” It is evident that many state representatives are not adept in technology, but insist on the dangers of the app due to its promotion of harmful trends and the potential censorship of international issues such as the Uyghur genocide. Although there are many concerns over the safety of TikTok, the app’s dangers are not unique to TikTok itself, and a ban would worsen the rocky relationship between the U.S. and China more so than abate TikTok’s potential risks.

On April 4, a guest speaker came in during School Meeting to discuss the negative aspects of social media and advise caution around some apps. The speaker made many valid points, including the idea that our attraction to social media is analogous to a slot machine, and that keeping a relationship by sending a snap of a wall every day is not genuine. While social media in general has some downsides, and it is easy to get addicted to endlessly watching short videos, banning TikTok is not necessarily the solution. The job of preventing addictive habits instead lies with users who can take measures such as setting their own screen time and turning off notifications. TikTok provides an open platform for users to express their creativity and get to know people from different backgrounds. Aside from making TikToks, just scrolling through feeds and laughing at videos has often made my day a little better. The Internet is a complex network that offers both positive and negative experiences for users, but balancing the two comes with limitations and self-control, not prohibition. Without TikTok, millions of users in the U.S., consisting of a primarily younger audience, would lose a form of self-expression and entertainment they have used for years.  

The primary concerns of most representatives in the hearing were the promotion of dangerous trends, data stealing, and silencing of free speech. The problem with most of these allegations, however, is that they aren’t particularly true or unique to TikTok. Examples of dangerous trends on TikTok included eating NyQuil seasoned chicken, inhaling liquid nitrogen, and self-asphyxiation challenges. Although these trends are undoubtedly dangerous, banning TikTok would not do much to stop it, as dangerous internet trends will always find their way to users. 

Secondly, allegations of data stealing are similarly applicable to apps such as Facebook, which had a severe allegation in 2021 involving data theft and security issues. Security threats are a universal problem with social media—as the guest speaker noted, much data is stored in areas where big corporations have been established–so the concern isn’t just related to TikTok. The concern with TikTok specifically could more so indicate sinophobia, where concerns about data security are only taken into consideration when foreigners, especially Chinese people, are the ones “stealing” it.

Additionally, Congress’ censorship allegations are extremely difficult to prove. The example examined in court concerned the claim that users calling out the Uyghur genocide and concentration camps in China were censored. However, one quick search of “Uyghur” on TikTok proves that plenty of content surrounding the topic is available. Ultimately, all of the allegations presented in court were not unique to TikTok and gave no reason why banning it in the U.S. would resolve its issues. 

The final consideration is the U.S.’s relationship with China, as banning TikTok will only worsen the already unsteady relationship. By banning TikTok, the U.S. will send a message that it is not interested in promoting cultural exchange, self-expression, and creativity, which can be viewed as an attempt to limit the influence of Chinese technology in the U.S. market. This could result in retaliation from China, potentially harming trade relations and further damaging diplomatic ties between the two countries. Making a big deal about something as small as a social media app is not worth jeopardizing our relationship with China.

TikTok has played a major role in the social lives of Americans today, providing an outlet for self-expression, creativity, and diversity among users around the world. In a world where TikTok is banned, there would be many irreversible impacts on both a micro and macro scale, including the erasure of diversity and creativity on social media, the normalization of sinophobia in Western countries, and the weakening of international relations between the U.S. and China. It is important to address legitimate concerns about the safety and security of TikTok, but impulsive reactions that do not take into account the bigger picture could ultimately do more harm than good.