The consequences of banning the app from Americans
By: Matthew Ding
On January 19th, 2025, around 170 million Americans were devastated as they were met with a pop-up message prohibiting access to the popular short video app TikTok. A Supreme Court ruling enacted a ban to address national safety concerns about its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance. Shortly afterward, President Donald Trump passed an executive order delaying the ban moments after his inauguration. Though the ban addresses important online security concerns, TikTok ultimately should not be banned, as many of the concerns about TikTok are unjustified and a ban could have numerous unintended effects on the economy—not only the United States but the world as a whole.
TikTok collects the same volume and categories of user data as its American social media counterparts. In particular, the authors of a Washington Post study found that Google and Facebook collect more personal and content information from users than TikTok does. The Supreme Court passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act to prevent the data collection used by ByteDance and its potential to spread Chinese propaganda. However, issues with other platforms such as Google or Facebook should be addressed first as they pose an even greater security risk to Americans. For instance, Google tailors ads to individuals by utilizing the user’s information. This process is known as third-party bidding, where it sells ad space to advertisers while exposing the user’s device information and the user’s browsing history. Instead of banning TikTok, the United States government could implement restrictions and negotiate for regulations to protect user data, such as controlling what TikTok can access on their user’s devices. This compromise would ensure that Americans and their data are protected, while also keeping the app accessible to everyone.
Additionally, the decision to ban the app would affect millions of businesses and organizations across America and worldwide. “It’s like losing a relative,” said Markell Washington, a 27-year-old content creator in Los Angeles in a statement shortly before the ban. In a court filing, Tiktok claimed that millions of content creators would lose around 1.3 billion dollars in revenue in one month after the ban. As the app is shut down, many companies and creators would lose a main source of advertising and marketing, directly affecting their revenue. TikTok is a crucial form of advertising for small businesses. Many content creators could end up losing their careers due to the ban. In the same court ruling, Blake Chandlee, president of global business solutions for TikTok, stated that businesses’ “advertising, marketing and ‘organic reach on TikTok’ contributed $24.2 billion to America’s gross domestic product in 2023, with TikTok’s own operations adding another $8.5 billion.” TikTok plays a pivotal role in the US economy, and its ban could lead to many small businesses shutting down after losing their main form of advertisement.
Although many Americans are fearful of the potential dangers of TikTok, it remains a significant part of society. TikTok is a platform where users can express their opinions and ideas. The app also plays an integral role in helping small businesses thrive. In an interview, Marc D’Amelio, a famous TikTok creator, noted that there’s “so much nostalgia and so much memory there.” In the meantime, millions of Americans have their fingers crossed calling for the government to pass new policies and legislation to revive Tiktok in the near future.
Leave a Reply