Alisha Aybar
Should The U.S Ban Tiktok?
TikTok, much like nearly every other mainstream platform, provides its users with the necessary freedoms to speak on behalf of what they believe to be right or wrong, this however also comes with its own sets of guidelines and limitations. The question as to whether a ban should be placed on this platform preventing American users from accessing it has long been argued. The safety of users, data privacy and content moderation of the platform have also had issues raised regarding how this information may be used. The currency owners(s) of TikTok have long been clouded in suspicion in regards to the intention of the platform and what the information it collects is being used for. The opposing end of the spectrum proclaims TikTok is a platform that nurtures creativity, social interaction, and genuine entertainment. Tiktok’s algorithm enables its users to discover and interact with content tailored to their interests, while also being delivered in a short time frame. And since the initial development of TikTok newer similar social media formats have been introduced, following not only the short formatted videos, but also the trends, allowing for users to express themselves further; a privilege offered to users worldwide by TikTok.
Despite all this however, U.S. Officials have been closely monitoring Tiktok and its chinese affiliations, specifically ByteDance, the chinese tech company who own the app. Concerns have been raised more than ever as to whether the data Tiktok owns is being shared with the Chinese government, subsequently putting users at risk. These discussions have led to talk about a possible nationwide Tik Tok ban. While the concerns that are being raised by U.S officials are nothing short of valid, the ultimate mission of the platform is to “inspire creativity and bring joy”. Any information that may be shared is completely at the discretion of the user. Information shared to and by third-party services heavily rely on what the user decides to provide. If the user decides, privacy preferences can be adjusted in order to control who can view and interact with your content. Additionally, a thorough inspection on TikTok data security and privacy policy also provide users with a picture perfect view on where and what information is being documented as well as the why.
Other concerns regarding the possible spread of misinformation hate- speech and obscenity have also been tackled in TikTok’s policies, where TikTok’s policies, where Tiktok policy explicitly states “We do not allow any hateful behavior, hate speech, or promotion of hateful ideologies. This includes content that attacks a person or group because of protected attributes”. Realistic examples of this policy being enforced would ve the usage of a hateful slur being used by an individual not belonging to that particular group. As far as the handling of any misinformation that will inevitably maneuver its way onto the platform, Tiktok states “We do not allow inaccurate, misleading or false content that may cause significant harm to individuals of society, regardless of intent”. Tiktok also utilizes independent fact-checking partners that individually assess content that may be deemed as misinformation. As far as the obscenity aspect of concerns officials hold for Tiktok, “sexual activity, explicit content, and nudity are not allowed” an extra precaution has also been added stating “content with body exposure is age restricted”.
Tik Tok continuously makes advances to reinvent its platform with fun and interactive features whilst also maintaining users privacy and comfort through its heavily inclusive policies. Tik Tok is a platform fueled by free speech, from content creators, to ordinary scrollers, a community for everyone. Our U.S constitution's First Amendment is what protects this platform, removing it would be a violation of what both our country stands for, as well as Tiktok.