U.S. lawmakers are advocating for a TikTok ban, citing national security threats.
At the same time, parents and advocates are urging for a TikTok ban for kids or more restraints for the younger audience using the app.
TikTok, which has been downloaded over 210 million times in the US, is facing concerns about its parent company ByteDance's Chinese ownership and potential for data collection.
However, there is no concrete evidence that it poses a threat to national security.
Social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have been criticized for their lack of privacy protection and misinformation.
However, the negative impacts on children have garnered the most attention, with parents concerned about the effects of social media on their kids' mental and physical health.
How a TikTok ban for kids could be beneficial for their growth
As reported by USA Today, two-thirds of teens in the US use TikTok, with kids as young as four accessing the app despite age restrictions in place.
Recent data reveals that minors spend more than 90 minutes daily on TikTok, which can adversely affect their academic performance, social life, physical activity, outdoor play, cognitive development, and other aspects that contribute to healthy growth.
This is acknowledged by medical professionals and society at large.
Although social media has some benefits, like connecting lonely youth online, experts who investigate the impact of technology on young people assert that harmful practices are ingrained in the essence of social media.
Social media platforms are highly likely to collect a vast amount of personal data for purposes such as data sharing, targeted advertising, and an uncontrolled, psychologically manipulative competition for attention.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the use of smartphones and social media can lead to mental distress, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts among young people, with girls being the most affected.
Security on TikTok and other social media companies
Many do not agree to a total TikTok ban, but instead, a TikTok ban for kids or even more restrictions and settings for child security and safety, as do for other social media platforms.
Although according to Care, the platform has a "younger user" section to allow kids under 13 to join in on some of the fun.
Younger kids can only access videos that have been curated by TikTok's algorithm for a younger audience, and there are even more limitations when it comes to the videos they create.
However, parents and advocates argue that these restrictions are not enough. Parents are advocating for more restraints for young kids using TikTok to assure that their addiction to the platform is not hampering their growth.
Just recently, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, testified before Congress, facing tough questions about national security concerns as well as the app's effects on mental health for adolescent and younger users.
As concerns over TikTok's potential for data collection and national security threats continue to rise, U.S. lawmakers have become eager to speed up the ban on TikTok.
However, as reported by Quartz, Republican Senator Rand Paul halted the judgment since what can be attributed to TikTok can also be scrutinized for other big tech companies.
As Mr. Chew testified, he pledged that safety will be the platform a top priority, especially for the younger audience, and also promised to firewall U.S. user data from foreign access and keep the platform free from government interference.
