If I Could Ban One App

 We have so many social media platforms, and just as we have their advantages, there are also disadvantages. With technology, life is made easier, making communication a seamless experience for everyone to connect with their loved ones and family. Platforms like these are also a gateway for business owners to showcase their products, promote their markets online, and create flexibility for everyone. But the effect of some of these platforms has been a great toll on people’s health, to the point that most develop different kinds of sicknesses all because of the toxicity of these platforms. I could remember years back when I decided to download TikTok to see what people were doing there, and the hype then was something that was itching my ears and all I needed to do was check it out. Lo and behold, it was that same day I uninstalled it and vowed never to use the app again. The first thing I noticed was the constant and endless scrolling, and all I kept seeing was nonsense; nudity was being spread everywhere, and I could literally see comments flying everywhere encouraging them to keep posting more. Another thing about the app is how much time is being wasted because you cannot stop yourself from scrolling through each short video to feed your eyes, and it was like the more I wanted to stop to do something else, the more it kept getting me hooked and unwilling to leave. I felt like it was a satanic influence through the app. And before I knew what was happening, it had sucked my data like one gulping down water to quench thirst. I exclaimed, and that was the end for me. Now, if I have the power to ban one social media platform, it would be TikTok, and this is because I never fancied the app from the beginning.  TikTok is a time waster and easily addictive. The algorithm is designed to keep users scrolling endlessly by feeding them video after video. This makes it highly addictive, and one would find it difficult to control screen time. I don’t think there is any toxic platform like TikTok. Though it’s a good platform to advertise your business, the negative effects far outweigh the benefits because the high possibility of its bad effect on users is very high. Another reason I would ban this platform is because of how it trains the brain to expect quick stimulation. This means that TikTok makes things look like they are easier to achieve on the surface, bringing a sense of immediate gratification, and this reduces people’s ability to stay focused and be patient to create meaningful content. They just want to make short videos and boom… make it public, and so, the content often has nothing meaningful to talk about. On TikTok, you’d see several criticisms that, if one isn’t strong enough, could easily make you fall. They make you look like you have no issues going on with you, and so, whatever it is, you are to blame. There is no iota of empathy on that platform as everyone is quick to point fingers. Of course, this happens on other platforms, too, but the one on TikTok is especially heavy.  Another thing about TikTok is the perfect faces, bodies, lifestyles, and achievements shown, and so, younger people are easily exposed to comparisons among themselves and the influencers. There are also viral challenges on the platform that are dangerous, encouraging reckless behaviour for the sake of views and clout. Trends dominate TikTok, and this has discouraged many people from being more creative and true to themselves. People are more concerned with making whatever goes viral, as long as there is money in it, just to fit in or gain attention. These and more reasons are why I would definitely ban the platform for life and save people from unnecessary suffering, especially mental health struggles. Some countries have banned TikTok, for example, India, Nepal, Somalia, Taiwan, and the UK - though some of them are only temporary, as some countries have lifted their bans. But the common reason they did this was for data security and privacy. They believe that TikTok’s company could share user data with the Chinese government or that the app could be used for irrelevant or harmful purposes like espionage or misinformation. But for me, these reasons are enough for me to ban TikTok without thinking twice if I have the power. --- _{*Images Credit to Gemini*}