The House passed a “TikTok ban” on March 13 and, as of April 23, the TikTok ban has been passed by both houses. The Senate voted late Tuesday, April 23, on the TikTok ban and it was passed. If the President is to sign the bill, ByteDance will have 270 days to sell to an American company or it will be shut down.

 Most people think it is an actual ban of TikTok, when in reality it’s where the law would block the app from Google and Apple until the current owner, ByteDance, sells the app. Lawmakers supporting the law are concerned that the company’s Chinese-based ownership could be forced to share the app’s user data with the Chinese government according to constitutioncenter.org. 

   Some may argue trying to ban TikTok is a compromise of our first amendment rights. 

   “The legislation’s opponents have said it would violate American users’ First Amendment rights by taking away a platform they use for free expression,” according to washingtonpost.com.

   In addition to being a violation of first amendment rights, a ban on TikTok would keep users from accessing the many benefits of the app. It gives people a way to express themselves and get validation from others. According to typeset.io, “positive changes include increased creativity, self-confidence, and interest in learning.”

   TikTok gives many small businesses the opportunity to get their product out there. According to quora.com, “the app is used by millions of people and helps them connect with locals. A small business can use TikTok to build brand awareness and promote engagement. Building awareness is the act of introducing your brand to new audiences.”
  Tiktok has proven to help people with mental health and have positive effects. According to linkin.com, “TikTok is known for its humor and entertaining content, which can help to boost mood and relieve stress. Watching funny videos and engaging in lighthearted content can be a great way to improve mental health.”

      A big argument that people make is that TikTok simply isn’t safe because of its ties to China, but there doesn’t seem to be enough proof for this case. According to us.norton.com, “TikTok is as safe as any other social media platform thanks to the app’s many security features.”