The ban on the popular social media app, TikTok, in the United States was supposed to go into effect on January 19th due to the app being owned by a Chinese parent company. However, due to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, the ban has been delayed. By banning TikTok, the U.S. Government is setting a bad precedent for future circumstances.
The push to ban the app that has 100 million U.S. users began back in March, when congress passed a bill giving ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, until January 19th to sell the app to an American owned company citing national security concerns. The app serves as a source of income for many Americans, with some using it to promote their small businesses, and others using the content they make to earn a living. By banning TikTok, the US government would be negatively affecting these individuals’ incomes, as social media is a part of their livelihood. TikTok has also not been proven to hurt individuals; with evidence having yet been released to the public showing it as a national security threat. By banning the app, the U.S. Government would ultimately cut off a major source of news for young individuals in particular.
The app would go offline on January 18th, however just a couple hours later on the morning of January 19th, the app would come back online to U.S. users, with President Trump announcing he would sign an executive order bringing the app back online and extending TikTok’s chance to sell the app to 270 days. Although the executive order does not halt the ban altogether, it gives TikTok and ByteDance some time to reconsider their options and come to a deal with the United States. TikTok has a large American community, and by letting the app get banned, the app would become less popular and thus lose value, as it would see a drop off in interactions.
Banning TikTok would have a significant impact on its’ American community, primarily hurting content creators, small businesses, and individuals who use the platform to inform themselves on everyday news, as these individuals rely on the platform for content. ByteDance and the United States government are already discussing the app’s future, and ultimately these negotiations will prove consequential as to whether the app gets banned or not. When all is said and done, the U.S. Government should not ban TikTok, as it would hurt everyday individuals due to the large platform it provides its users, allowing creators to partner with others and advertise content to make an income.
