Death to TikTok

The problem is not the content. The problem is the platform.

For the average US citizen who maintains an aloof, semi-informed attitude on US affairs, it can be fairly easy to miss otherwise significant stories. Honestly though, how can they be blamed? Besides, the news cycle these days is oddly repetitive, and most of the stories are portrayed as worse than they actually are. And even if they are that bad, who needs that kind of daily inundation?

The cost of living went up in California. Again.

An elected official of a major US city was indicted on federal charges. Again.

Another deranged man attempted to assassinate presidential candidate Trump. Again.

Now. Go back and consider those three factual statements, again. Each of them are awful events. Each of them reflects a serious cultural or social problem, and yet, when you apply a few callous descriptions and perfunctory justifications to downplay their impact, they seem less daunting. But regardless of the downplay, you cannot undo their effects. This is concerning, as it feels more and more as though the bad news is a perverted form of entertainment; something to be watched, rewarded with an emotional reaction, then forgotten as we await the next news cycle.

That’s a bad place to be, because it inevitably invites more of the same. Consider this story, for example. A viral social media trend on TikTok is making the rounds, and it is extremely dangerous, especially for kids. Again.