President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to pause a ban on TikTok for 75 days. An outbreak of posts featuring reactions from tears over the app’s ban to joyful celebrations of its return filled social media. Arguments over the ban’s constitutionality will continue, but the 12-hour freeze of TikTok highlighted a significant problem: addiction.
TikTok, which merged with the app Music.ly, originated as a short video and dance platform but has since evolved into much more. “Content creators” have relied on the app to influence others as a full-time job. Over 170 million people in the U.S. use the app for news, entertainment, and to find a sense of community online.
Recommended Stories
Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account
Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.