The recent attempts by the U.S. government to ban TikTok, a popular social media app among the teen population, has sparked an important debate: the balance between national security and individuals’ rights and freedoms.

The app, owned by a Chinese tech company by the name of ByteDance, has faced many allegations of sharing user data with the Chinese government. Given the current tensions between the U.S. and China and the fact that TikTok currently houses more than 150 million American users, it is understandable the government would want to protect its citizens’ data from potential danger.
However, an outright ban on TikTok would be an overreaction from the government and is not the right answer.

Banning TikTok would affect Americans’ freedom of expression and choice. While TikTok may not be for everyone, it has become an important platform for many people across the states to share their creativity and connect with others.

TikTok has offered me the opportunity to express myself through small, short and fun videos. TikTok has also given me the opportunity to learn about new and intriguing information on the for you page. Without TikTok, I would have to find a new place for my creativity.

The app also has become a significant voice in economic growth in the US, with many content creators able to make a living from posting their content to the platform. The ban would hurt these individuals’ livelihoods and also potentially affect the broader economic growth of the U.S.

While the concerns surrounding TikTok are legitimate, a ban is not the answer.

Rather than limiting Americans’ freedom of expression and choice, the U.S. government should work to strengthen data privacy and security regulations for all social media apps. This approach would be more effective in addressing the security risks posed by TikTok while also being more in line with American values of free speech and individual choice.