By Danielle Rymer
Tik Tok is a popular app used to post videos to the internet. This app allows teens and young adults to connect and communicate across the world. There are many things you can learn from Tik Tok; life hacks, recipes, crafts and more. This popular form of social media has an estimated one billion users per month. Each user is required to upload their personal information when creating an account, this could potentially be dangerous for the U.S. population. There are also many concerns that Tik Tok could be detrimental to our mental health due to the many negative things people experience online such as cyber bullying, misinformation, and “cancel culture”.
When creating an account for Tik Tok, personal information such as your contact list, email, and location are added to the app. Many believe this to be dangerous, including the U.S. government: Due to the fact that Tik Tok is a Chinese owned company, the app was at risk of being banned many times. The U.S. government has officially passed a bill to ban Tik Tok on government phones due to concerns about national security. This includes any device managed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
There are also concerns pertaining to the mental health of our youth. Tik Tok is suggested for those 13 years of age or older, however, many children use the app unsupervised and are exposed to videos about drugs, violence, and depression. With Tik Tok, like any social media platform, young children may experience bullying which could cause damage to their self esteem and mental health. It is easy to be influenced or persuaded as a child, which could be dangerous for society as a whole.
Although there are many cons to Tik Tok, there are also many pros. This app allows people to learn new things about cultures and locations. This app is a great way for people to connect from all over the world. Many creators use Tik Tok to showcase their work, whether that be art or music. This form of social media is a full time job for some, and banning the app entirely could cause many people to be unemployed. Although there are many cons to this app, Tik Tok has opened doors for many people. This amazing app has allowed people to build a connection and to feel less alone.
