Do users have a say when it comes to the future of a well-liked app?
That’s a question U.S. lawmakers are now asking themselves in light of a possible national ban on TikTok, the app everyone, including myself, loves to analyze to death.
To catch you up, 39 states have already banned TikTok—in most cases on state-issued devices. Recently, a bill to ban TikTok entirely — or to require that the app be sold — passed through the House in a 352-65 vote.
According to The Washington Times, the Senate is now considering whether this is all moving too fast, and if there should be more deliberation.
The bill is due to concerns over national security and user privacy, since it’s still not clear how our personal data is stored or could be used for political gain. The question that needs to be asked at this juncture is: What is the responsibility of the U.S. government in the matter and how much should Congress listen to actual users (and content creators)?
It appears so far that the users have a lot to say, and they have been flooding lawmakers with calls and messages either defending the app or at least voicing their opinions.
And, let’s be honest, social media users do have opinions.
I’ve seen every possible viewpoint under the sun. One user posted about how quickly the House acted on this ban, when other things (like healthcare) seem to be in a perennial state of debate and discussion. Another posted about how lawmakers are targeting TikTok over security concerns but are not moving as quickly when it comes to serious Facebook problems.
And this is where I see the light at the end of this dark tunnel: We do live in a free country. Any political intrigue that leads to healthy discussion (and positive action) is a good thing.
Social media has always been a haven for trolls, conspiracy theories, and a lot of atrocious junk. It has also been a place where we can connect and debate in a public square. The fact that we are able to post valid but unfiltered opinions at all is a testament to the power of these platforms and their value to society in general. Discourse is always welcome.
I’m encouraged by this latest development, if only because the Senate is seeking answers and allowing time for more analysis. My great hope is that we will see democracy in action, that there will be a thoughtful period of discussion and debate over this topic. Some have argued that any delays allow more time for lobbying and for influencers to have their say. Some experts say, according to NBC, that banning the app could lead to more restrictions on free speech.
I’m not sure how this will end. I have my own reservations about the app, not just because of the privacy and security issues, but due to how quickly it became so dominant. The app reached 100 million users in only nine months, but more than that, the app gets a lot of attention. It has a cachet with users, the media, influencers, companies, and everyone in between. Whatever is dominant in social media tends to drive interest and focus — we flock to the latest thing. To me, that almost seems like a recipe for disaster — getting us hooked seems to be the main goal.
My hope is that lawmakers move quickly but diligently, that they weigh the pros and cons of the ban, and eventually reach a decision that is not just beneficial from a legal standpoint but is beneficial, in the end, to the users. We’re the ones who have to live with the consequences.
