Digital Power Play, Or Here To Stay?
The TikTok ban has gone from rumor to reality. Governments are cracking down, users are panicking, and creators are wondering ‘what’s next for the platform that’s reshaped the internet? Let’s break it all down. Within the last year TikTok has currently ranked as the 5th most popular social media platform globally with nearly 1.6 billion monthly active users. Providing entertainment and occupations to younger generations while simultaneously leaving older generations behind with the velocity of rapidly changing trends.
CONS: To start off, the app allows for multiple U.S influencers to thrive and make a living creating videos for consumers to watch. If we were to see influencers as “employees of TikTok”, you could potentially argue that the TikTok ban calls for a mass layoff. So, what makes TikTok so important that they must get rid of the app? [WARNING CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC] In my opinion, nothing; I believe that America is just greedy. If America was able to purchase and control TikTok for their own benefit and pockets, they would have no problem with the app. I interviewed Alyanna S. a 11th grade cougar about her opinions on the TikTok ban, she stated that in her opinion TikTok shouldn’t be banned because “it’s our only free will in America right now.” This shows that young minds believe that TikTok is the only app that we can use to express the way we feel without unnecessary repercussions.
PROS: Although TikTok is entertaining, it would be nice to see if anyone benefits from this separation because in actuality no one benefits from it. To elaborate, no one notices they’re addicted until it is seen from a different angle. In the modern age technology has been improved countless times while we as humans are becoming blinder to the cycle that we’re in. Maybe this ban will allow some people to experience their life in first person rather than through a screen.
MY SUSPISCIONS OF A POWER PLAY: Due to recent and historical events I have concluded that the U.S will always play the long game for power, or at least the upper hand. Knowing this, I believe that because of the recent behavior and backlash from Gen-Z, people in power have decided to take away the app that seems to have the best grip on them. With TikTok as some of Gen-Z’s most used apps, it has the most influential content from random useless topics to presidential elections. It only makes sense to corrupt digitally. I asked Alyanna S. one last question ‘Do you think this ban will have any positive outcomes?’ She states that there’s simply no point in banning it in the first place, “another app is just going to be made whether they own it or not.”
