Should a Democratic Society BAN an App?
Well, the obvious answer is obvious, NO.
Over the course of selecting my focus for this project, I found myself darting from one topic to another. It initially began as an exploration into algorithms, and whether they were potentially unsafe. That evolved into another exploration into whether algorithms were negatively affecting the lives of young people in our country, defined as anyone under 18 years of age. That research brought me invariably into the realm of TikTok, an app that is used by 6 in 10 young people. Being that I am part of the first generation exposed to the internet, I sought this truth out.
But before long, the studies contradicted each other as much as supported each other, and sent me so many ways. I found some conclusions, but none that really wrapped up with a bow. Eventually, through discussing the issue with my peers, so many of them brought the issue of the impending TikTok ban to my attention that I diverted to focusing on this premise: should a democratic society ever ban an app if it poses a clear and present enough danger?
I searched through articles, podcast episodes, YouTube videos, even a multitude of TikToks to find all possible leads and truly delve into the multi-modal implications that such legislation will effect. My research had led me to a profound conclusion: that our data is mostly unprotected, free to be bought and sold under very little scrutiny or regulation. It was infuriating to read examples of how companies can circumvent existing barriers so easily, to make off with our personal data and generate huge profits with it. Therefore, it became my mission with this project to inform you, at least in part, of the thievery that occurs every day — with your stuff! How the ADPPA has not been codified into law yet is absolutely astounding, and deserves equally if not more press than this bill has gotten! Still, I must emphasize: I believe that this is such a profoundly impactful topic that I implore others to examine where their data is exposed, and take measures to ensure it ends up in the least hands possible. Data is now the most valuable commodity in the world, don’t let it be stolen right from you.
I had used Premiere Pro to edit my video, the same tool as my previous projects. There were relatively few issues, barring my microphone mysteriously turning on an off infrequently one day. I rather enjoyed the research process for this project, as it was definitely more bound in research than some of my other projects to date. I wish I had not been so bogged down with end-of-the-semester work to really make it shine, but that is just the way of the world…
TWO SOURCE VENN-DIAGRAM:
The chart above was difficult to make vertically and legible on this site. Bear with its rather crude presentation of two different viewing angles.
VIDEO:
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- Smith, B. (2021, December 6). How tiktok reads your mind. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/05/business/media/tiktok-algorithm.html
A great source that describes in detail some of how the platform TikTok’s algorithm functions, sourced in full by a document (“TikTok Algo 101”) released by the Beijing engineering team that developed its algorithm. I seek to use it when I describe how algorithms work in general, as well as for exploration into how the world’s most popular social media app functions. Over a billion people use this app (Smith) and many of them are people under 17, which raises many questions, if not concerns. The article goes into some detail about how the algorithm functions using charts, but also addresses the concerns from Presidents Donald Trump and Joseph Biden about TikTok’s access to American user data’s threat to national security. The article largely dispels any worries to that end, but cannot confirm or deny many threads pertaining to the Chinese app’s censorship of minority Muslim groups.
2. Staff, WSJ. Inside TikTok’s algorithm: A WSJ video investigation — WSJ. (2021, July 21). https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-algorithm-video-investigation-11626877477
Another source that investigates the TikTok algorithm. While my entire project is not going to be solely about TikTok, I find it more than helpful to have a number of sources on it considering it is now the most widely used social media app, and influences popular culture in such an increasingly subversive way.
3. Kurzgesagt, In a Nutshell. Why We Hate Each Other on the Internet. Youtube. (2023, November 29.) https://youtu.be/fuFlMtZmvY0?si=3SgmvnQ2AZNqRp0W; https://sites.google.com/view/sources-why-we-hate-each-other/#h.v1sz4j6ct0d
This source is composed of two tracks: 1. The Youtube video and 2. The website page that contains all of the research to back their statements up. For the purposes of this project I will be focusing on the information found in the sources section, not necessarily the video. The central thesis of the video, founded on the incorrect assumption that the survey contained within the source is actually representative of all-encompassing truth on the matter of internet influencing perception, is something that I will replicate in part with my video. I like the idea of starting with a hook as powerful as “1 in 5 Americans believe political violence is justified,” or “In 2022 nearly half of Americans expected a civil war in the next few years,” but then disproving it through the course of my video. Disproving will give way to some actual viable concerns, and explain why algorithms are largely involved in this false perception, but still impact our democratic process.
4. Tornberg, P. (2022, August 30). How digital media drive affective polarization through partisan sorting. pnas.org. https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.2207159119
This is the study that the previous source references and uses for its narrative structure. It is profoundly interesting that their finding disproves the theory of online echo chambers, and they posit the internet exposes us to more diverse opinions and perspectives — which actually leads to dissension and division.
5. Rameswaram, Sean. 2024, April 25. Today, Explained. Can Congress Ban TikTok? Today, Explained. Vox Media. https://open.spotify.com/episode/0f1iBraDM2VrcPw36GNRBq?si=7Ugrw4b0Q7K13jWd2THFKQ
One of my personal favorite political podcasts, Today, Explained always interviews an expert on the subject matter of the episode and tries to detail a recent story in as much detail as possible in 25 minutes. The episodes are fact-checked thoroughly and published alongside a news letter and pertaining articles. I plan to use this episode as more basis for information about the TikTok ban, including the counter suits placed against Tennessee and Utah after they tried something similar.
6. Rameswaram, Sean. 2024, April 25. Today, Explained. The Tiktok “ban” is Law. Today, Explained. Vox Media. https://open.spotify.com/episode/4i5XC1KHSLvIOzUEipO4Vn?si=THbjrXkDR5W_ydQhWslqnA
Again, this episode provides fantastic information about the ban and its effects, including when it will go into action. The second half is more of a discussion of the time that social media takes away from us, and criticizes the often informal pundits of information that many of the youth garner their information from on the daily. I plan to use a direct quote from this episode by siphoning a portion of it for my explanation video, but that may be cut if the video ends up being too long.
7. Text — H.R.8152–117th Congress (2021–2022): American Data Privacy and Protection Act | congress.gov | library of Congress. Congress.Gov. (n.d.). https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8152/text
This is the actual legislative document proposed to congress 6/21/2022, which I will be using as a source of information for what the bill does. I think it is extremely important that data, now the most valuable commodity in the world, should be protected — particularly that of U.S. citizens! And the fact that more Americans than not use digital technologies that demand excessive amounts of data means that corporations profit off this lack of security!
8. This, Now. [nowthis] From Seoul to New York, protests on behalf of Palestine have unfolded across the globe. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@nowthis/video/7288763213821463854
Just a TikTok with multiple clips to use as an example of why TikTok can be used as a platform for political gathering. Cool footage, free Palestine.
9. Vice News. (2023, January 6). 187 minutes: The january 6th insurrection: Vice special report. YouTube. https://youtu.be/hyIR1vxIcGk?si=sGWmWz7oS3fQrJez
My video will rely on clips from this video for part of my argument: that being that TikTok is no more dangerous than any other social platform, because Parlor and (then) Twitter are equally as susceptible to political division and gathering.
10. Tiktok Economic Impact Report: 2024: Tiktok Economic Impact. tiktokeconomicimpact.com. (n.d.). https://tiktokeconomicimpact.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoa2xBhACEiwA1sb1BHmlZLrbIqpy_moXUTRlkMXMeQhblAuAI7mwl8T-63k44T2LLPRT6hoCSv8QAvD_BwE
It is impossible to ignore that TikTok is an insane generator for business (particularly small businesses) in the U.S. This source is from TikTok specifically, which might seem like an improper source to cite, but no company or publication knows the business stats better than the company that generated the revenue in the first place. In addition, the visuals are clean and focused, which will be helpful for visual clarity in my video.
11. Pathi, K. (2024, April 24). Here’s what happened when India banned Tiktok. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/heres-what-happened-when-india-banned-tiktok
Luckily for me (unluckily for India), the country of India had banned TikTok before, and I can now analyze the effects of said ban. India had done so because of a military standoff, but there were still many subversive effects that China had on their economy and culture that they believed necessitated this measure.
12. Wong, K. (2024, April 24). Tiktok: What to know about the app’s possible ban in the U.S. FOX 10 Phoenix. https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/tiktok-what-to-know-as-u-s-senate-weighs-bill-that-could-ban-the-app
This Fox News source is used in my venn diagram example. It is honestly more similar than dissimilar to the CNN article.
13. Fung, Brian. (2024, April 24). Biden just signed a potential tiktok ban into law. here’s what happens next | CNN business. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/23/tech/congress-tiktok-ban-what-next/index.html
This CNN source is used in my venn diagram example. It is honestly more similar than dissimilar to the Fox News article.
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Owen Tierney
Film Media & Communication Studies Major at University of Rhode Island
Hope you enjoyed :)
