Banning TikTok just got deeply political — for good reason

Do users have a say when it comes to the future of a much-loved app?

That’s a question American lawmakers are now asking in light of it a possible national ban on TikTokthe app that everyone, including me, loves to analyze to death.

To cover you, 39 states have already banned TikTok—mostly on state-owned devices. Recently, a bill to ban TikTok outright — or require the app to be sold — passed the House by a vote of 352-65.

According The Washington Times, the Senate is now considering whether this is all moving too quicklyand whether there should be more discussion.

The bill is driven by national security and user privacy concerns, as it is still unclear how our personal data is stored or how it could be used for political gain. The question that needs to be asked at this juncture is: What is the US government’s responsibility in this matter, and how much should Congress listen to the actual users (and content creators)?

It seems so far that users have a lot to sayand have inundated lawmakers with calls and messages either defending the implementation or at least voicing their opinions.

And, let’s be honest, social media users have opinions.

I’ve seen every possible view under the sun. A user posted about how quickly the House acted on this ban, when other things (like health care) seem to be in a constant state of discussion and debate. Another post about how legislators are targeting TikTok for security reasons but they don’t move so fast when it comes to that serious problems on Facebook.

And this is where I see the light at the end of this dark tunnel: We do indeed live in a free country. Any political intrigue that leads to healthy debate (and positive action) is a good thing.

Social media has always been a haven for trolls, conspiracy theories, and a lot of horrible garbage. It was also a place where we can connect and discuss in a public square. The fact that we can publish valid but unfiltered opinions is a testament to the power of these platforms and their value to society at large. Reason is always welcome.

I am 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 on this issue. 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.

Not sure how this will end. I have my own reservations about the app, not only because of the privacy and security issues, but also because of how quickly it became so mainstream. The application reached 100 million users in just nine months, but more than that, the app is getting a lot of attention. It has a collection of users, media, influencers, companies and everyone in between. Anything that’s mainstream on social media tends to drive interest and focus — we flock to the latest thing. To me, this seems almost like a recipe for disaster – getting us hooked seems to be the main goal.

I hope that lawmakers will move quickly but diligently, weigh the pros and cons of the ban, and ultimately come to a decision that is not just legally beneficial, but is ultimately beneficial to users. We are the ones who have to live with the consequences.