There’s not a day in my life that I thought the president would be out to get a social media app. Namely, one that has children dancing on it or people pranking their parents to go viral.
I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve sat on my bed for a “quick break” to result in burned retinas. I got stuck on TikTok before getting to this piece (for research purposes).
During the start of quarantine, scrolling through TikTok became an everyday routine for me. Watching the videos on that app are akin to a drug addiction. Makeup trend I can’t do? Double-tap. Relationship I’m not in? Double-tap.
In August, news surfaced of the app being banned and it caught me by surprise. Can the president actually do this? Banning an app that is on millions of phones seems impossible.
The concern is primarily around data security and data privacy, according to Trump’s administration. The app needs to give America some access to it or else it’ll be banned on the app stores on November 12.
Since Trump has the authority, there’s no doubt it’ll turn out in his favor. Whether that ends in America getting a share or the app getting completely banned.
The app is already banned in India but that hasn’t stopped people in that country from finding a way on it. What will the ban really prove besides Trump having the power to silence the users there?
The freedom that TikTok gives has pros and cons. Some pros are serotonin, creativity, and pretty girls. Cons are racism, sexism, ableism, lack of censors, (possible) information thievery, and pretty girls I can’t talk to.
To elaborate on the cons, TikTok has an issue with getting rid of users who abuse their freedom to post offensive “dark humor” jokes that target minorities. Specifically, around the time BLM protests were rampant, non-Black people who would make fun of those killed as a result of police brutality.
There was even a video of a man shooting himself in the face going viral on the platform. I had to talk my internet friend down through a panic attack because of it. That’s what I mean by lack of censors.
Despite all that, I loved TikTok so much that I was blind to its faults.
Originally, I was shocked that TikTok was being shut down. Like, c’mon, you wouldn’t take Facebook away first? With the amount of fake news that spreads on there, you’d think Trump would’ve despised it.
I figured taking TikTok had to be taking our First Amendment away. Even if the ban didn’t have to do with the content on the app, I felt like we were being robbed of that. Like we were being robbed of expression and community.
All the anxiety I felt over this app being deleted has subsided. I tried to mentally detach myself from the app so that the disconnect didn’t hurt as much. TikTok doesn’t want to control those who spread hate on the app so why should I fight for Tiktok if it won’t fight for me? As I delved deeper into what the app stood for, I discovered a side of me hadn’t see before.
The side that despises the app instead of seeking happiness from it. The entirety of social media is like that for me. I like it until I don’t anymore. There were times where I couldn’t open the app without being invalidated for being black, a woman or LGBT. Basically, for existing.
If the app is banned, I doubt it’ll go away at all. VPNs exist. There’s no way it would be gone forever. Hell, I’d risk a little data invasion for a good laugh. Since I’ve already been on the app for years, my data has been dangled in-front of their faces like easy prey.
Do you remember Flappy Bird? Another time-waster app but it destroyed the life of its creator. After Flappy Bird was deleted off the app store, people still had it on their devices. The craze eventually died out but not before people sold their coveted devices with the “rare” app for hundreds of dollars.
I am indifferent about TikTok being anywhere at this point. If I think about it, there will be more social media apps that can make me smile. I would prefer one that doesn’t ignore racism or sexism. The world could do without another judgmental social media app. Unfortunately, I know how difficult it is to find a place where you feel completely accepted. Online or offline.
There are times where I want to delete TikTok entirely because of the lack of humanity some people have on the app. Maybe the ban isn’t the worst thing that could happen but, in this generation, it’ll be a loss those of all ages will feel. My mom, a 39-year-old mother of three, even asked me about the ban.
No actions have been reported against TikTok since the deadline is slowly approaching.
I wish a decision could be made already so we aren’t teetering on the edge of relief or dismay. With or without this app, I’ll find somewhere to occupy my time.
For now, I’ll learn a dance challenge to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and remind myself of my worth.
