TikTok can be addicting when you scroll for hours at a time, and the content can be disturbing or inappropriate. So, I understand why some members of Congress want to ban this platform. TikTok was created by a Chinese media company, ByteDance Ltd. For some, this raises a few concerns about personal data access, which is why it's banned on government devices in 27 states, including New Hampshire.
Sex, addiction, substances, crime, invasion of privacy, and more can be found within the content on TikTok. But should the Congress outright ban the app? The short answer is no. Right now, TikTok is used by over 150 million Americans. That's nearly half of all of America. With all these accusations made by politicians, it is hard for people, especially students, to let go of something that has brought us entertainment in the last few years.
TikTok is a waste of time depending on what you watch. But why should TikTok be banned so quickly? Congress can't just ban something that Americans love, based on very little evidence. China and the U.S. are battling for technological dominance, and if TikTok was deliberately being used by Chinese government officials to spy on Americans, then it is a problem that should be addressed with a possible ban.
I do not like TikTok becoming a part of people's daily lives, but a ban isn't the answer. Regulation and understanding of mental health problems that are caused by TikTok and other social media addictions is what needs to be discussed. There should be limits on how it should be used, there should be rules on how people should behave. I totally understand that Congress wants to ban this platform because of governmental and privacy concerns, but this is not the way to do it. There needs to be a compromise between the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, and the U.S. government.