Recent news has emerged about the House of Representatives passing a bill that bans the popular social media app TikTok in the United States. There has been ongoing debate on the safety of TikTok in the U.S. due to its ties to China. Lawmakers have concerns about the Chinese government using the app to spy on American citizens or influence U.S. public opinion (CBS News). However, until recently, TikTok faced no real danger of being banned from U.S. app stores due to its overwhelming popularity and support. With the passing of the House’s bill, the app faces a significant threat of being banned, angering many citizens.
TikTok’s popularity skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With millions of people stuck in their homes, they turned to social media to cure their boredom. TikTok caters to the user’s interests by keeping track of their liked videos and what they tend to view. So, over time, the user’s TikTok page will show millions of videos that keep them entertained for hours. The app is most notably popular among the younger generation, who use it not only for entertainment but to express themselves, voice their opinions, and even state their political views. Although TikTok might have gained popularity from fun dance trends, it is now an app that provides real-world information and access to communities of people with similar interests.
TikTok has also created millions of career opportunities. People who faced unemployment due to the pandemic could turn to TikTok, where they simultaneously make videos about what they love and earn money. The app has also become a major source of advertisements, not only for large corporations but also for struggling small businesses. With the addition of the TikTok shop, where users can buy products directly from the app, many small businesses can keep themselves afloat from the app alone. Some people even make a living by creating TikTok advertisements for businesses.
TikTok is not just an app where people dance and joke around. It has become a central part of most American citizens’ lives. Losing it means a loss of thousands of people’s careers and a loss of a creative outlet for even more people. Frankly, our government is too concerned about a single app with a small chance of giving China valuable information. Rather than worrying about the other hundreds of proposed bills addressing far more concerning issues, they focus on banning an app millions of people love and enjoy. There is still a chance that TikTok will be bought by an American corporation and stay in app stores. But, if it doesn’t, Americans will undoubtedly find a way to use it either way.
