Terrelonge 1

Autumn Terrelonge

Dr. Emily Rendek

ENGL102-022

Researched Argumentative Essay

07 Dec. 2020

Positivity vs. Privacy: A Case for TikTok

For over a decade, American society has had access to an abundant amount of social

media networks and applications that have shaped the way our world currently operates. Apps

like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Pinterest, and many more have contributed to the

identity of American adolescents in countless ways that have both positive and negative effects

on their development. In 2019, the social media app TikTok, owned by the Chinese company

ByteDance, took the world by storm gaining millions of users of all ages and backgrounds. The

quarantine beginning in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic has widely contributed to the

popularity of the free and creative app. As the world seemed to turn into a dystopia, this platform

offered a space for social interaction in a raw and creative form. In comparison to Facebook and

Instagram, TikTok has contributed to the normalization and embracing of different cultures, the

LGBTQ community, different body types, disabilities, mental health issues, and many other

attributes that make an individual who they are. Just as this rise of TikTok occurred, in the

summer of 2020, an executive order to ban the app was issued. The positive influences of

ByteDance’s social media app, such as an inclusive community, creativity, and self-expression,

outweigh the security concerns, therefore, Tiktok should not be banned in the United States.

Unlike many other social apps that teenagers use today, TikTok promotes inclusivity,

diversity, and freedom to be who you are. It breaks the social normative role of beauty standards
 Terrelonge 2

and status, rewarding those who truly bring others joy and positivity. Creators are free to be real

and true to who they are without a filter, making the user feel included rather than judged.

Constantly viewing individuals who appear perfect and successful can cause an abundant amount

of harm to the mental health of adolescents; that is why TikTok is a breath of fresh air. An

example of the platform's creative content can be seen in user “@thejulianbass”’s TikTok

displaying his visual graphic talent by editing himself with stunning transitional effects. His

video received about 15 million views with 2.7 million likes. IGN’s, the most famous

video-game media outlet, official account even commented saying “This is premium content.”

This response demonstrates how TikTok viewers appreciate creativity within the app. Youths

who typically may have been bullied in schools are celebrated and loved on the TikTok platform.

TikTok user “@donystiah” shared an emotional encounter of being called fat when going for a

run in just a sports bra as a top. The 17.1 thousand comments she received are flooded with

encouragement and reminders that she is beautiful and to ignore the hate. This example exhibits

TikTok’s promotion of an environment of friendship rather than tearing people down. Due to the

spread of creativity and friendship on the platform, the majority of top creators on TikTok gained

their following based on their character and whether users enjoyed their content. Relatability is

the new popularity of today’s generation and TikTok does a great job at spreading this

effectively.

On the night of August 5th of 2020, president Donald Trump issued an executive order

that would place a ban on ByteDance’s social media application, TikTok, due to concerns of user

privacy. This ban would result in the removal of the application from all American platforms

meaning that TikTok would no longer be accessed by American society. TikTok collects about

the same amount of data as many other American social media apps, the only difference is that
 Terrelonge 3

the location of data storage is unknown, making the American government uneasy as China has

access to all of the data collected from TikTok. American networks and applications are just as

invasive of user privacy as TikTok but users fail to realize this because the American government

chooses not to shed light on that fact for their own benefit and use for the data. This duplicity is

depicted in Luo Jie’s political cartoon titled “Liononthehunt.”

The illustration shows Uncle Sam pointing a video camera at the global web in the shower while

also rebuking TikTok for "spying." The Uncle Sam character represents the hypocrisy of the

American government for their sudden concerns about citizen privacy when it is the government

who constantly monitors not only its citizens, but the global web as an entirety. It is not to say

that simply because all social apps collect user data means that it is an acceptable practice, it is

just simply hypocritical for one app to be banned for the same issues that many other apps have;
 Terrelonge 4

the only difference being the country the app is owned by.

The security concerns surrounding the Chinese owned social media app, TikTok, are

valid as it does collect an abundant amount of user data, but we fail to realize that the American

owned network, Facebook, collects the same amount of data, if not more, and is not questioned

with the same concerns. The U.S. privacy policy indicates that TikTok collects “your country

location, internet address, the type of device you’re on [and if] you give it permission,… your

exact location, your phone’s contacts, and other social network connections, as well as your age

and phone number” (Fowler 14). It is also found in the U.S. privacy policy that not only does

Facebook collect all of the same information that TikTok does but it also collects “Details that

people often readily volunteer [like] age, employer, relationship status, likes and location” while

also “track[ing] both its users and nonusers on other sites and apps. It collects biometric facial

data without users’ explicit “opt-in” consent [as well]” (Singer 6). You should be aware that

Facebook owns the social media apps Instagram and Whatsapp, which have access to all of the

same user data whether you are a user of Facebook or not. This information is made public to the

user and is required to be stated in the privacy policy. Although in 2019 Facebook came under

fire for the Cambridge Analytica scandal, of which its users’ personal data was acquired without

consent, the result was merely a fine with no discussions or actions taken towards banning the

app. According to consumer privacy expert Paul Bischoff, “‘[The ban on TikTok] is the first

time [America has] ever banned an app through an executive order.’” he further states, “‘I

wonder what sort of precedent that sets for other apps that the current administration sees as a

threat or just doesn’t like’” (O’Brien and Arbel 17). It is obvious that the concerns are not more

so placed on the privacy policy but rather the fact that the extremely popular social app is owned

by a foreign country.
 Terrelonge 5

One would claim that the issue does not solely lie on what data TikTok is collecting but

rather what China intends to do with that information. Individuals like Jimmy Quinn, a political

journalist, argue that China may be using TikTok to collect data with malicious intent; after all,

Douyin, a social app exclusively used in China, advertises propaganda regarding the treatment of

Uighurs of which over 1 million are held hostage in concentration camps (Quinn 7). It is a

known fact that China’s government censors its citizens in morally unjust ways, such as limiting

their access to certain networks, advertising purposefully misleading propaganda, and conducting

issues of humanity, but does banning TikTok play a role in limiting this conflict? Consumer

privacy expert, Bischoff, stated that he “has found no evidence that the Chinese government is

actually using TikTok as a spying tool, [even] though the advertising-fueled app sucks up

personal data much like other social media platforms” (O’Brien and Arbel 16). China does not

have a reputation for extending its propaganda outside of its own country; other countries are

aware of global events and will not be fooled by the deceptive content. The only threat that

China has over the U.S. is that they may use that data against future U.S. government officials

who have used TikTok in the past or American users who plan on residing in China, but even

then what is the chance that the data will actually be accessed and used as a weapon? Facebook

and Instagram know exactly where you are located at all times and recognize your face; this

should be more threatening than China’s access.

With the privacy policy between ByteDance’s TikTok and American social media apps

being commensurate, we can look at what the content of the two types of social platforms bring

to society and the effect it may have on adolescents. Social media platforms like Instagram and

Snapchat display content in which users post the highlights of their day to day life and aim to

appear their best self. Users have the ability to add filters and retouch photos before uploading
 Terrelonge 6

without other users being aware. Doctors Majorie Hogan and Victor Strasburger conducted a

study analyzing the benefits and risks of adolescent social media usage. According to their study,

problems such as displacement, unfulfilling sleep, obesity, and obstructive influences are some

of the many negative effects associated with social media and technology (Hogan and

Strasburger 1206). For adolescents, constantly being exposed to the great parts of other people’s

lives and the push of beauty standards can lead to comparison within their own life. They see

others gaining popularity in likes and followers by appearing perfect, having a fun and eventful

life, cool friends, and a perfect face and body. A study conducted in Michigan found that, for

young adults, “Facebook use ‘worsens how one feels moment to moment’ and reduces

satisfaction with their lives” (Hogan and Strasburger 1210). What the youth fail to realize is that

almost all of these people are only selectively posting the best parts of their life and filtering

through all of the bad. They may have photoshopped their images to have whiter teeth and a

slimmer waist while posing with friends they only even talk to when it's convenient. These

actions are a common issue in social platforms that are designed to be held as a time capsule of

one’s life that users can look back on because of the pressure to make their life appear flawless.

TikTok’s user-interface allows for creators to gain popularity based on their likable

character rather than lifestyle, appearance, or status. In apps like Instagram, posts are displayed

by who you follow and how many likes the posts receive. This setup is completely different from

the way TikTok displays its content. In TikTok, users upload short videos lasting up to one

minute, which are displayed to a randomized audience regardless of followers and likes. The user

feed, otherwise known as the “for you page,” contains videos of many different users, not just

who the users follow or how many likes the video has. Because of this, creators gain popularity

by uploading with the intention of being creative, free, and true to who they are. Many
 Terrelonge 7

adolescents who use the app are not expecting their friends and family to view their account,

therefore relieving the pressure of appearing their best. The American Psychological Association

recorded a podcast with Dr. Mitch Prinstein who revealed that popularity is divided into two

types: status and likability. Dr. Prinstein explains that “likability is the kind of popularity that we

have when we're really young and it used to be the kind of popularity that was important as you

were an adult. It's based on how much you make other people feel happy, valued, and included”

while status “translates scientifically to being known by everyone, being visible, being

influential, dominant and powerful” (“Why Popularity Matters”). Instagram’s most popular users

built their following on their lavish lifestyle, therefore gaining their popularity by status.

Alternatively, TikTok’s most popular users build their following based on their own talent and

personality, deriving their popularity from their likability. Many of the social media apps used by

teenagers of today’s society are associated with the negative effects found in Hogan and

Strasburger’s study because the top “influencers” on their feed are popular by status. Status is

exactly the kind of popularity we find common in the “cool” kids in highschools, and “has pretty

bad long-term outcomes because what works for us in high school does not always work for us

in the adult world” (“Why Popularity Matters”). For example, an individual who has gained

success from being friends with Kylie Jenner will most likely suffer mentally as an adult in the

real world because that success has been built by association and appearance rather than who the

individual is personally. According to John Herman, a media and tech journalist, content that is

funny, relatable, and creative are found to be among the most liked videos on TikTok (9). This

key difference in content stream is what ties the popularity of users on TikTok to likeability

rather than status. Dr. Prinstein suggested that popularity stemming from likeability produces

success in future endeavors (“Why Popularity Matters”). If an individual’s character is naturally

 Terrelonge 8

likable and promotes inclusivity, he/she is more likely to be confident and open, leading to

success in his/her future endeavors. Therefore, it can be concluded that the streaming process of

TikTok has a positive effect on teens.

As with any technology source, there are negative consequences associated with the use

of TikTok. Just like any other social media app, TikTok can be addictive and lead to irregular

sleep patterns and contribute to teenage obesity. Due to the fluid-like stream source, it is easy for

users to keep scrolling on TikTok without realizing how much time is passing them by. This

over-stimulation can cause teenagers to stay awake to late hours scrolling on their phones.

Disrupted sleeping patterns lead to destructive effects on teen “school performance, mood

lability, and [cause] symptoms of inattention” (Hogan and Strasburger 1207). Constant scrolling

and engagement on the app takes “time away from reading, sports and active pursuits, and

face-to-face interaction with family and friends,” causing a lack of proper exercise and healthy

lifestyles creating a contribution to youth obesity (Hogan and Strasburger 1206). There also

could be a spread of misinformation on TikTok, as important topics may be discussed on the app

and made available to a young audience who may not fully understand the content and its effects.

With these consequences being stated, TikTok makes efforts in halting excessive screen-time by

displaying warning videos that suggest taking a break from the app and also displays warning

labels on content that may be harmful to its users. These safeguards set TikTok apart from other

social apps as it is the only platform to take these precautions. We should remember that it is

common knowledge that any source of technology has these obstructive impacts and should be

limited regardless of the content and positive effects. Almost everything should be consumed and

accessed in moderation.

In addition to the many positive impacts of the app, TikTok aids in the formation of
 Terrelonge 9

self-identity as adolescents express themselves free of judgement, which in turn allows a gain in

confidence that could potentially reduce social anxiety. Because of the creative and free space

that TikTok promotes, teenagers and young adults tend to find content real and relatable. Without

the pressure of appearing perfect and happy all of the time, users post content depicting what

their mundane day to day life is or post about their true feelings in hopes that the viewers will

relate, and oftentimes the viewers do. This allows for a development of self-identity. Creators do

not feel a pressure to fit into one box in order to be seen as cool or popular. Individuals who may

have been bullied in school for being different are appreciated and loved on the app and

oftentimes are brought comfort by being who they are without judgement. Research on the

development of adolescents in regards to self-identity and behavior was conducted at the

University of Oregon. It was found that as self-identity evolves it becomes an important source

of motivation and behavior within adolescence (Pfeifer and Berkman 159). It is a common issue

in today's generation for young adults to form their identity based on what is currently being

marketed towards them, as the media creates pressure on young adults to fit the personality of

what is currently trending. This media marketed identity inhibits one from forming an identity

true to his/her internal character. The ability to be free and who you are on TikTok and then

become liked and popular for it creates motivation for you to always be yourself and know that it

is appreciated. Pfeifer and Berkman state that “adolescents are physically, cognitively, and

socioemotionally more advanced than children but prone to behave in ways that are inconsistent

with adult values and norms” (158). Knowing that there is a space between child-like behavior

and complete mature adulting brings a more normalized behavior found and appreciated on the

app allowing self-identity to form. Lack of self-identity development can be linked to the very

common social interaction anxiety. According to data collected in a study conducted by Xing
 Terrelonge 10

Zhang and his colleagues, there is a positive influence of interpersonal and site attachment on

short form media application addiction (42). While we can find that social anxiety is found to be

more common within young adults and teenagers who use social media apps, it is not evident

that the apps are what causes the social anxiety. Short form media applications have a

correlational relationship with social interaction anxiety, meaning it may just be that individuals

who have social anxiety tend to use social media apps more than those who do no have social

anxiety. Social anxiety is a type of behavior so since it was found that self-identity influences

motivational behavior, we can conclude that developing a sense of self will aid in breaking out of

social anxiety as it influences our motivation. Therefore, as TikTok allows for its users to

develop an identity it could potentially lead to a positively correlated lower amount of social

anxiety found within adolescents.

Despite the United States government’s privacy concerns of TikTok’s data collection, of

which is similar to American owned social media apps, TikTok’s propensity towards positive

community interactions, focus on likability, and a format that allows for the formation of

self-identity all outweigh the cause for a ban. As of November 2020, ByteDance avoided the

potential ban by lack of action on the government's end. Although TikTok is safe for now there

are many lessons learned from the company’s ordeal. The near ban showed the power of the

United States government to limit internet freedom in the name of privacy, while also spying on

its citizens. The near ban also pushed citizens like myself to compare TikTok to American social

apps, finding that TikTok is a more effective app for both creativity and positive impact on its

users. When it comes to social media apps, especially those of which adolescents spend most of

their time on, the values that are important should be ones that build a respectable character; that

means inclusive, diverse, and confident. If TikTok continues its rise, future generations will
 Terrelonge 11

focus on being their vulnerable selves instead of attempting to be status symbols not only on

TikTok but in the real world, which in turn will build confidence and lead to a more inclusive

and successful future. As a society we should encourage the youth to be themselves and express

their personality as a means of genuine popularity backed by true self-identity.

 Terrelonge 12

Works Cited

Bass, Julian (@thejulianbass). “Who’s your favorite hero??” TikTok. 02 Jul. 2020. Accessed 03
Dec. 2020.
https://www.tiktok.com/@thejulianbass/video/6844906456471457030?_d=secCgsIARC
DRgBIAIoARI%2BCjwf3zDce0oliF4wrdVIby7zHgabx3pTZVS4NqYaqDwcvb8U8rU
nwfJaxy7LIHdoQCbJXSGflgf2bfVJdcaAA%3D%3D&language=en&preview_pb=0&s
c_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAAamnTOKCchMpdwB2JEd85tsTpau6L-t04pwvRu02cL
UpdUSYcIe3VaBKbM8Urxq&share_item_id=6844906456471457030&share_link_id=
1661447-84F9-4D8E-9826-C40A779A06E2&timestamp=1607058857&tt_from=copy
u_code=dbi3k7640j9e86&user_id=6810845021359047686&utm_campaign=client_shar
&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&source=h5_m

Fowler, Geoffrey A. “FAQ: Should you delete TikTok? A guide to the rumors and the real
privacy risks.” The Washington Post, 13 Jul. 2020,
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/13/tiktok-privacy/. Accessed 30 Sep.
2020.

Herman, John. “How TikTok Is Rewriting the World.” The New York Times, 10 Mar. 2020,
www.nytimes.com/2019/03/10/style/what-is-tik-tok.html. Accessed 30 Sep. 2020.

Hogan, Majorie and Strasburger, Victor C. “Social Media and New Technology: A Primer.”
SAGE Publications Clinical pediatrics, Vol. 57, no. 10, 2018, pp. 1204-1215,
www.doi.org/10.1177/0009922818769424. Accessed 27 Sep. 2020.

Jie, Luo. “Liononthehunt.” China Daily, 07 Aug. 2020,

https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202008/07/WS5f2ca790a31083481725ec8b.html.
Accessed 29 Sep. 2020.

O’Brien, Matt and Arbel, Tali. “Q&A: What does banning TikTok and WeChat mean for users?”
ABC news, 19 Sep. 2020,
abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/qa-banning-tiktok-wechat-users-73116064. Accessed
19 Sep. 2020.

Pfeifer, Jennifer H. and Berkman Elliot T. “The Development of Self and Identity in
Adolescence: Neural Evidence and Implications for a Value-Based Choice Perspective on
Motivated Behavior.” Child Development Perspectives, Vol. 12, no. 3, 2018, pp. 158-164.
web.a.ebscohost.com.pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=8d
43e10-052e-4016-b2da-fbe2abafd71d%40sdc-v-sessmgr03.
 Terrelonge 13

Quinn, Jimmy. “Why Top Tech Journalists Are Wrong about TikTok.” National Review, 14
Jul. 2020, nationalreview.com/corner/why-top-tech-journalists-are-wrong-about-tiktok/.
Accessed 19 Sep. 2020.

Singer, Natasha. “What You Don’t Know About How Facebook Uses Your Data” The New York
Times, 11 Apr. 2018,
www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/technology/facebook-privacy-hearings.html. Accessed 04
Nov. 2020.

💔
Thomas, Donystiah (@donystiah). “Learning to love myself everyday ” TikTok. 14 Oct. 2020.
https://www.tiktok.com/@donystiah/video/6883671831107226886?_d=secCgsIARCbD
gBIAIoARI%2BCjyftN9zomJ9qpZXE3%2BZ8iudHJEdZ9kajRGE3RPUAq3x4QB6uV
zY3loScnBlsZN3zrSJoW7jm9zLVlDMtkaAA%3D%3D&language=en&preview_pb=0
sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAAamnTOKCchMpdwB2JEd85tsTpau6L-t04pwvRu02c
1UpdUSYcIe3VaBKbM8Urxq&share_item_id=6883671831107226886&share_link_id
9A0CF7D5-7E1D-4B98-B15F-CC95957278A1&timestamp=1607059314&tt_from=co
y&u_code=dbi3k7640j9e86&user_id=6810845021359047686&utm_campaign=client_s
are&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&source=h5_m

“Why Popularity Matters with Mitch Prinstein, PhD.” YouTube, uploaded by

American Psychological Association, 14 August 2019,
https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/popularity-matters.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2020.

Zhang, Xing et al. “Exploring short-term video application addiction: Socio-technical and
attachment perspectives.” Telematics and Informatics, Vol. 42, no. 101243, 2019,
https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0736585319303302?token=271BF493A689B
826F10249B800A70C1E51AECC2C227CDD3B5B1616199B3611E2E2D6D9714D4D
9F9CD33B98F7511A0F. Accessed 30 Sep. 2020.