For years, TikTok has been an integral part of many teens’ lives. It’s the default app to click open at any time of the day, providing users with a continuous stream of short and entertaining videos specially curated to their interests. The app is a never-ending source of dopamine and has all the components to make the site highly addictive and capable of hooking just about anyone. Fruitless attempts at a federal TikTok ban have been made multiple times; however, as the most recent continues to successfully move through the legislative process, millions of obsessive users fear what could happen.
Although politicians’ main concern follows how the lack of security poses threats to national safety, if TikTok is banned, it could be a valuable opportunity to utilize the absence of the app. Though many who chronically use TikTok are opposed to the idea, it’s time we start thinking about why the ban is neccessary.
It is no surprise that TikTok is an extreme distraction to everyday life. We’ve all been there, trying to focus on homework when we somehow find our fidgeting hands subconsciously reaching out for our phones in an attempt to delay the task in front of us every day. The app breeds unproductiveness in teens and eats away at focus.
We often place ourselves in negative environments on social media platforms, feeling constant pressure to meet societal standards, opening the door to a pool of mental health struggles. An exploratory study from the National Library of Medicine reveals a clear link between constant TikTok usage and feelings of anxiety, depression, decreased attention span and loss of sleep. Officially banning TikTok would give users a chance to disconnect from the digital world and break this unhealthy cycle, as many are unwilling to do it themselves.
While it would take a significant amount of adjustment, the TikTok ban would allow us to prioritize our well-being and develop a stronger awarenes of the real world. Without relying on a screen for constant satisfaction, we could restore genuine relationships with those around us, unaccompanied by the superficial toxicity that social media unleashes.
Rather than dedicating hours every day to watching trivial videos, we can take part in authentic activities that TikTok has convinced us to be irrelevant and understimulating. It’s time we realize that the core components to a happy and fulfilling life are found in the “boring” or “dumb” activities like going on a walk or reading a book, not on TikTok. Ban or no ban, we should all attempt to break the addiction and “Get Ready With Me” to engage in real life.
Photo credit: “TikTok app icon on smartphone screen” by Ivan Radic is licensed under (CC-BY 2.0 DEED)
