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TikTok can be the source of many good things, but how do we solve its problems? First of all, there is the environmental aspect. ByteDance has many options when it comes to solving or at least taking some steps in lessening its environmental impact. It could follow the lead of other major Chinese tech companies, (Tencent, Alibaba, etc.), and at least make some changes in its goals and plans of the future. ByteDance and TikTok also have massive social and mental problems, especially within young people. Eating disorders can be triggered and created by TikTok’s influence, and one way to solve this is to monitor the content on the app more closely as well as giving parents power in what their children can watch. People, especially minors, can have social problems because of spending too much time on screens, so a parental time limit for the app may help to lower screen consumption on the app. TikTok also provides economic and political issues, especially within the US. To help lower tension and confusion, nonpartisan education on the reality of TikTok may help. The US and Chinese governments should also hold a meeting, purely to honestly discuss what TikTok’s correlation with China really is. This way, distrust and turmoil politically can no longer be rooted in TikTok. These changes and solutions could help everybody to create a more accepting and stress-free platform for everybody.

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The Economic and Political Impact of TikTok

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The Economic and Political Impact of TikTok

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TikTok is a source for a lot of drama when it comes to politics and economical issues because it has a Chinese parent company and it has a huge economic influince on the tech industry. Former President Donald Trump attempted to ban TikTok in August of 2020, but the ban attempts have all been blocked by a federal judge. These attempts deepened the divide between the democratic party and the republican party. Before Trump attempted his bans, India successfully banned TikTok in June of 2020 but Pakistan failed to ban in October 2020. Because America and China are enemies, the attempted bans heightened the drama and anger between the two countries. Trump eventually managed to start another ban on TikTok, but his term ended and Biden put a hold on it. This back-and forth between parties and countries is very frightening because they are huge powers. Also, TikTok has a huge impact on the economics in the tech industry because of its massively powerful investors: Walmart, UAE Government Media Office, etc. Unlike other companies, TikTok may actually be a serious issue between America and China, or even between the American parties.

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Though TikTok is a website and app, it still has a massive effect on the environment. First of all, its parent company, ByteDance, has the second to last environmental rating of Chinese companies because of its lack of transparency about its emissions and its green goals. ByteDance has also shown no interest or concern in a green initiative like many other Chinese companies (Tencent, Alibaba, etc.). TikTok is also mainly accessed through smartphones or IPhones, which contribute greatly to the E-waste problem. E-waste is dangerous to animals and bad for the earth because most electronics have harmful chemicals and metals in them. If not disposed of properly, mounting E-waste could become a real problem for the environment. Because of this, TikTok is also an environmental concern. To access TikTok, one must use a device of some kind, most of which burn fossil fuels for energy. For all of these reasons, TikTok’s environmental impacts are much more serious than many believe, which is a large problem that must be addressed.

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TikTok has been widely disputed on its effect on people’s mental health, especially with children. But what is the cause of all of this? Some say that TikTok is good for people, because it provides community for kids and adults, not unlike other social media companies or even team sports. It also provides different perspectives on the same issues because everyone can post. On the other hand, skinny people encouraging others to work out and showing their unreachable standards to the public is a reason to stop TikTok because people, especially women and girls will may develop mental illnesses (eating disorders, etc.). Men and boys could also be subject to thinking they have to be fit and muscular because of influencers showing off their muscles and body types. Concerns are high because  “Rates of depression have doubled among teen girls between 2009 and 2019, and self-harm hospital admissions have soared 100 percent for girls aged 10 to 14 during the rise of social media between 2010 and 2014, the most recently available data”. Some people blame TikTok, but others blame Covid stress and pressure elsewhere. Videos themselves can be either helpful or triggering, or maybe both. Many influencers, especially women, share about their experiences with eating disorders and mental illnesses on the app, which some find helpful, but others would rather avoid. Overall, many agree that TikTok is a mixed bag of effects on teens and its majority Gen-Z demographic.

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Launched in 2016, ByteDance’s TikTok has been revolutionary in the tech industry. TikTok needs a place in everyone’s pocket, and that originates from iPhones and smartphones. iPhones are the most popular brand of smartphone, and they were only compatible with TikTok after the iPhone 6, released in 2014. But iPhones and other phones have not always been so intricate; they were released in 2007 and others around that time, and they were limited in their abilities. Now, they can do almost anything you can think of, like stream endless content from all over the world. ByteDance originally wanted TikTok’s Chinese counterpart, Douyin, to be worldwide, but they changed their views and created a different version of Douyin (TikTok) to be in other countries. After the launch of TikTok outside of China, it took only until January of 2018 for TikTok to earn #1 most popular social media app in Thailand and other countries. Eventually, in 2019, the US took to TikTok, and the NFL partnered with it. Later, in 2020 it surpassed Douyin with 800 million monthly active users. After the soaring popularity of TikTok, ByteDance bought Musical.ly to merge it with TikTok. Since its release, TikTok has coasted smoothly through all demographics in different countries and cultures, proving its appeal and revolutionary algorithm.