Should TikTok Be Banned?
By Emily McCaslin
Many people have different views on TikTok and its purpose in society and let’s face it, we’re on our 7th “Tiktok is getting banned” scare. In this degree, should TikTok be taken off the appstore for good, or should it stay for a while? We’re going to explore each option with its advantages and disadvantages.
TikTok needs to stay:
Believe it or not, TikTok has more benefits than just funny videos, although those are a big plus. First of all, TikTok is a good platform for musicians and artists to put out their work in better hopes of being discovered. They can post their work on their account and maybe show up on the “For-You” page to get recognized.
Many activists have stepped up to get their voices heard and to stand up for what they believe in. This gives the audience a chance to switch their thinking and look at both sides of every story instead of making assumptions right away.
Along with activists, many inspirational accounts have come from this app. People dedicate their accounts to promote self-love and kindness, giving their viewers some joy for their day.
TikTok is also a good advertising resource for businesses to get their products popular. Not only is it free, but it has the opportunity to reach millions of people around the world. Many small businesses have thrived off of this fortunate app.
Lastly, we can’t forget how fun it is. It is a great way to bring people together to do silly dances or to make funny videos. Whether you’re at your house, at school, or even in the middle of a grocery store, you grab some friends and let loose and just have fun.
TikTok needs to go:
On the other hand, TikTok has many disadvantages. First and foremost is bullying. With every social media site comes cyberbullying. If creators chose to turn their comments on, people can leave whatever comments they want, good or bad. This causes many people to receive very hateful comments on their posts.
Another misfortune of TikTok is the drama that comes out of it. Influencers sometimes use their platforms to call others out for their mistakes. This can cause a lot of embarrassment for the creator and people can view them in a bad light. This isn’t to be confused with standing up for yourself, just that some things should be kept private and off screen.
Sometimes TikTok can be a world of comparison. People see what others want them to see, then ultimately make themselves feel bad for it. This can create problems with self-love and body shaming, further putting false truths into peoples heads.
Lastly, TikTok is designed to make it easy for its audience to watch for hours. It is very easy to lose track of time and keeps you swiping for more videos.
Remember to always look at both sides to every situation and not to judge people for their opinions. Next time you see someone doing a dance, ignore them if you don't like it. If you see someone getting cyberbullied, stick up for them instead of walking away. Whether or not you like TikTok, it does have its advantages and disadvantages—and now you know about both!