As the United States edges closer to a pivotal decision on whether to ban TikTok, we’re asking if you think the UK should follow suit and consider ditching it too?
If the law goes through, the popular social media platform will ‘go dark’ across the US on Sunday, marking a significant step in the ongoing global debate surrounding data privacy, national security, and the influence of foreign-owned social media platforms.
The UK government has already banned TikTok on government devices over cybersecurity concerns, but there is no indication yet that we will follow the US in considering a full ban. But do you think we should?
Launched in 2016, with its personalised feeds of quirky short videos often set to music and sound effects, TikTok rapidly became a cultural phenomenon, with millions of users across the UK sharing videos, trends, and creative content every day.
The apphas transformed entertainment, advertising, and even social activism. But the growing concerns over the platform’s data practices and its ties to the Chinese government have sparked debates across the globe.
Critics argue TikTok could be used as a tool for espionage or influence, while others contend that banning it would infringe upon free speech and limit creative expression.
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In April last year, American lawmakers passed legislation – signed by President Biden – that would ban TikTok in the US unless parent company ByteDance sold the platform within a year.
It has been reported that Chinese officials were considering selling TikTok’s US operations to Elon Musk, who is co-leading a newly-constituted Department of Government Efficiency in Trump’s cabinet. But according to Bloomberg News, a TikTok spokesperson said: “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
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