- Mixed feelings on TikTok ban
- Some cite mental health benefits
- Others fear losing news source
The American public is concerned that while prohibiting TikTok would be highly beneficial for their mental health and productivity, it could also deprive them of a valuable news source.
This sentiment is prevalent among today’s New Yorkers who are pondering the passage of a bill by Congress that will require the app’s Chinese parent company to divest or face a prohibition in the US app salient.
“I would be irritated for approximately three days,” remarked a former middle school educator. “A woman in her twenties stated, ‘I spend too much time on it, but it is extremely entertaining; I would ultimately be disappointed with it.'”
Others, however, claim they value the app’s ability to expose them to lifestyle and news content, and they are concerned that they may soon lose access to what has become a significant new resource for millions of young Americans.
“I use TikTok to research anything I need to know,” stated one young woman. Someone else remarked, “It’s a fantastic way for information to spread so rapidly; it shouldn’t be banned.”
Some even claimed that the absence of TikTok would be beneficial to their mental health.
The majority of individuals encountered feelings of grief or disillusionment regarding the impending prohibition. Those who were unaware were either uninformed or indifferent.
Although only one respondent appeared aware of the national security concern, he assuredly reiterated, “Trump will reintroduce it.”
“I would be sad,” one interviewee said, adding that they utilised it more frequently than any other application. “I adore TikTok.”
The suggested prohibition stems from concerns that ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, might exploit individuals’ personal information and potentially transfer it to the Chinese government — an action that Chinese law could conceivably compel it to undertake.
Although TikTok has consistently refuted the allegations, today marked a significant advancement towards implementing the ban as the House of Representatives voted 352-65 to approve the bill.
In the wake of a meeting with Republican megadonor Jeff Yass, whose company owns a $20 billion stake in ByteDance, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who previously issued an executive order to ByteDance to sell TikTok, has now expressed his opposition to the plan.
In the interim, TikTok has been engaged in an intensive lobbying campaign to bolster support among senators, as a vote by the US Senate is the final requirement for the law to become law.
While she would not be overly concerned with the ban, it would “provide us with an opportunity to focus on the present”, and the app is “extremely addictive.”
She further noted that alternative sources of content exist.
She stated, “I can see why others would be upset, but I don’t think it would matter too much for me.”
During an interview, a senior citizen from Germany stated that he was utterly ignorant of both social media and Congress.
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However, he also stated that many activities forbidden to his generation were carried out and urged young Americans to do the same.
Another respondent stated, “I might spend too much time on it, but I would ultimately be disappointed with it.”
A second respondent stated, “I believe I would experience irritation for approximately three days, after which I would forget about it.”
The individual, who had previously instructed middle school students, deemed the application “detrimental to the education of children” due to its disruptive impact on their attention span.
