There is a discussion of TikTok, a widely used social media platform, being banned in the United States. In my opinion, it should not be banned, but it should have an age restriction on it. Recently I have seen a trend of “Gen Alpha influencers” on TikTok who are girls between the ages of 5 and 11 who put on makeup and get ready in front of the camera. This is extremely damaging to the children making this content and the other children consuming it.

My generation of girls, Gen Z, has major confidence issues already and now this brand new generation is bound to get hate, and maybe something even worse: fame early on. We have seen dozens of child stars go down a dark path, and TikTok is leading the way for children to go down a similar one. Kids younger than 14 should not have access to TikTok, a platform that can have a variety of inappropriate content for a young and impressionable mind. To take even more precaution, users should have to show a proof of age. Both Instagram and Snapchat have age restrictions on them. 

If we have kids as young as 11 making and watching TikToks, imagine how long it will take for their attention span to shorten and then not be able to focus on school. There should also be a rule to prevent parents making children the main focus of their account. There has been controversy surrounding parents exploiting their kids on various platforms. With more families getting fame, it is important to protect children. 

On the other hand, TikTok has provided so much good for adults everywhere. The platform has given spotlight to small businesses and their owners, creatives trying to get their talent out into the world and even just people like Mama Tot trying to spread kindness. Mama Tot, a lovely southern woman, uses TikTok to help people who struggle with eating and to spread positivity. In that way, TikTok should stay because we need more joy and success in this world.

With the rise of influencers in 2024, if TikTok is completely banned, a ton of people will lose their jobs and only source of income. TikTok has given me good book recommendations, cooking advice and even a friend when I felt lonely; it connects people to each other even when they are miles apart. With the inappropriate content on X (formerly known as Twitter), the scammers on Instagram and the bots on Snapchat, TikTok being banned would be ironic. While TikTok can be both harmful and helpful, it should not be totally banned. Restrictions can allow the app to flourish and be safe for everyone. 

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