After his breakup, I noticed Mason’s mental health deteriorating. He would be on his phone all night, predominantly using TikTok. I noticed an increase in the frequency and intensity of his anxiety. After weeks of him not getting enough sleep, I took his phone away. An argument broke out and Mason had what I can only call a nervous breakdown. I had never seen him like that. In the heat of the moment, and one I’ll replay for the rest of my life, he rushed upstairs to his room and took his own life.
Learning more about the future of TikTok and what may happen in the coming months if its parent company does not change course is important.
As well as being toxic for children, TikTok has raised serious national security concerns, such as potentially spying on Americans and misusing their data. The U.S. government did issue a demand in early 2023 that ByteDance, the Chinese technology company best known as the parent company of TikTok, sell it’s U.S. business or face a possible ban, but this demand does not include a strict deadline.
An American-owned TikTok could add greater accountability and transparency to the TikTok app. Several people have put their names forward to acquire the app, one of which being billionaire Frank H. McCourt Jr., who has proposed to rebuild TikTok without its current algorithm, aiming to create a safer environment for children.
In addition, Project Liberty, founded by Frank McCourt, has initiated “The People’s Bid” to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations. Their goal is to change the platform to prioritize user control over digital identities and data, aiming to create a safer environment, especially for children.
To read the full article, visit the Newsweek website here.