TikTok’s origins trace back to 2016 when the Chinese technology company ByteDance launched Douyin, a video-sharing platform that quickly accumulated 100 million users within their first year of operation in China and Thailand (Schwartz). Pursuing global expansion, ByteDance strategically obtained Musical.ly in 2017 and rebranded it completely to what we know today as TikTok. This expansion proved great success, specifically in the United States, where the platform has 170 million users (McArthur). However, this massive American user base, parent company with ByteDance, which is privately operated in China, has provoked serious concerns about national security and data privacy. This presents the question of, “should TikTok be banned in the U.S.?” I believe that TikTok should be banned in the U.S. due to national security risks, data privacy concerns, and negative societal impacts.
The most pressing concern regarding TikTok’s presence in the United States is the national security risks it presents. ByteDance Ltd. is subject to Chinese laws that require it to “assist or cooperate” with the Chinese Government's “intelligence work” and to ensure that the Chinese Government has “the power to access and control private data” the company holds (Supreme Court of the US). This legal obligation tells us that any data they collect from us American users could potentially be accessed by Chinese authorities. These implications are very concerning because of TikTok's extensive data collection practices, which include not just user content but also location data, browsing habits, and device information. Furthermore, this means China has a direct pipeline to all American user data, which they could easily use to spy on millions of U.S. citizens. TikTok isn’t just another fun social media app, it’s potentially one of the biggest security risks we’ve ever allowed into our mobile devices.
TikTok’s aggressive data collection practices go further than what is necessary for a social media platform to function. Unlike other social media apps, TikTok persistently demands access to users’ contact lists, calendars, hard drives, etc. According to Robert Potter, co-CEO of Internet 2.0, while Facebook respects users’ privacy choices, TikTok on the other hand relentlessly pushes for permission for more important information until they give in (Van). What makes this data alarming is that many of TikTok users are young people who may not fully understand the implications of sharing such information. Teenagers and young adults are extremely eager to participate in the latest trends and connect with friends, so they often click, “accept” on privacy permissions without realizing what they are giving a foreigner owned company. “This allows access to their entire digital lives, this data can be used to map social networks, identify vulnerabilities or inform targeted disinformation campaigns” (Tuoma). This combination of hostile data gathering and a vulnerable user base creates scary data privacy issues.
Beyond the security and privacy concerns TikTok brings to the United States, the impact on mental health and social togetherness presents another compelling reason for its ban. The platform has highly addictive algorithms. They are specifically designed to keep users, particularly young people, scrolling for hours and hours leading to concerning behavioral and developmental effects. For mental health - higher odds of depression among U.S. individuals between the ages of 19 and 32, and corresponding findings have been reported internationally (Petrillo). I know from personal experience from having the app in the past it made me feel insecure about myself. The effects of “TikTok Brain” are compounded by early exposure to rapid frame changes, a common feature in many children's shows. Research has shown that toddlers exposed to content with frequent scene changes may develop shorter attention spans and struggle to engage in slower-paced, real-world activities (Guardiani). TikTok is only hurting our next generation.
On the other hand, I understand that banning TikTok will cause potential economic losses, particularly for content creators who have built their livelihoods on the platform. Although, the history of social media platforms shows how creators constantly adapt and thrive on all platforms. An example of this is when the successful transition of influencers went from Vine to Instagram and/or YouTube. While a ban might cause temporary disruption, alternative platforms like YouTube and Shorts Instagram Reels already provide similar opportunities for content creation and monetization.
Ultimately, I believe that TikTok should be banned in the U.S. due to national security risks, data privacy concerns, and negative societal impacts. This debate has already influenced the way I use TikTok and other social media platforms. I have recently deleted TikTok for over a month now because I didn’t think it was benefitting me in any way, so I decided it was best for me to not have it at all. This also influenced me to delete the two other social media platforms I used, Snapchat and Instagram. After learning more about the role TikTok has in our society, I am reassured that my decision to ban TikTok will restore human connections. My best friend Deslyn used to always delete the app so she could, “live in the moment” and I try to be more like her every day.
Hannah Allen a student in Jon Pfeiffer’s media law class at Pepperdine University, wrote the above essay in response to the following prompt: “Should TikTok Be Banned in the U.S.? Given the ongoing controversy surrounding TikTok’s ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance, discuss whether TikTok should be banned from use in the United States due to national security and data privacy concerns. Consider the legal, political, and ethical implications of such a ban. Additionally, reflect on whether this debate has already influenced, or is likely to influence, the way you use TikTok or other social media platforms.” Hannah is an Advertising major.
Guardiani, John. “Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry.” Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry, 30 Aug. 2024, phillyintegrative.com/blog/tiktok-brain-the-declining-attention-spans-of-our-kids.
McArthur, Tom. TikTok Restoring Services in US after Trump Pledge. 19 Jan. 2025, www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjde3p0rnjgo.
Petrillo, Sophia. “What Makes TikTok so Addictive?: An Analysis of the Mechanisms Underlying the World’s Latest Social Media Craze.” Brown Undergraduate Journal of Public Health, Brown University School of Public Health, 13 Dec. 2021, sites.brown.edu/publichealthjournal/2021/12/13/tiktok/.
Schwartz, Quinn. “The History of TikTok and Where It’s Going.” GRIN - Influencer Marketing Software, 18 July 2024, grin.co/blog/the-history-of-tiktok/.
SUPREME COURT of the UNITED STATES. 17 Jan. 2025.
Touma, Rafqa. “TikTok Has Been Accused of “Aggressive” Data Harvesting. Is Your Information at Risk?” The Guardian, 19 July 2022, www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jul/19/tiktok-has-been-accused-of-aggressive-data-harvesting-is-your-information-at-risk.
Van, Jason. “The Hidden Risks We Scroll Past: The Problem with TikTok—and RedNote | the Strategist.” The Strategist, 21 Jan. 2025, www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-hidden-risks-we-scroll-past-the-problem-with-tiktok-and-rednote/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Contact Jon and his team today.