From viral dances to educational content, TikTok has become a staple in the lives of people of all ages. However, there has been A recent discussion on whether or not the app is trustworthy. We interviewed some students at Wakeland High School , trying to uncover the truth on whether or not TikTok is reliable. Majority of the students we interviewed shared that they felt like the ban was unnecessary.
“ I don’t know why they’re trying to ban tiktok, they already took dubsmash and all the other fun apps. There’s other apps with explicit content that our government should be worried about, not TikTok ’ freshman Zoey Taylor said
While the majority of the students felt like the ban is unnecessary, we heard a different perspective from freshman, Kaylin Williams. “Tiktok has both positive and negative things about it, but I think if China is spying on us, they should probably delete it.”
The US and China have had a complex relationship for years now, and many times it has been thought that China has been spying on us. Government officials have been very persistent on banning TikTok due to concerns over national security and data privacy. Tiktok’s parent company, ByteDance, a Chinese company, has had many allegations made against them. The employees of ByteDance have been accused of accepting bribes, leaking data, and claiming expenses inappropiately along with other wrongdoings.
According to PBS.org the app has already been banned in numerous countries such as India, Nepal, and Somalia. In countries like the United States, France, and Denmark, government employees aren’t allowed to have Tik Tok on their government devices.
What could TikTok being banned look like particularly for students? A solution that’s been suggested is TikTok users moving to instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat. Many have stated that they feel like the app is too unique to be replaced.
Ultimately, whether TikTok is banned or not, it’s crucial for users to be aware of the privacy and security risks associated with any app they use. The discussion around TikTok’s trustworthiness serves as a reminder for users to stay informed and cautious about the platforms they engage.