The Chinese video-sharing app that has become favorite of every Indian teenager is in controversy once more, recently, Madras High Court directed the Central Government to ban TikTok, saying it was “encouraging pornography”. The order also directs the media from telecasting videos made using the app. Though the app is really famous and sometimes let a person be creative, but we can’t really overlook its huge disadvantage.
What is TikTok
Chinese internet technology firm ByteDance created TikTok, in September 2016 after seeinf the success of a similar app Musical.ly. However while launching in Southeast Asia and beyond, TikTok branded itself as a more “global” version of Musical.ly. In November 2017, ByteDance paid a reported $1bn to acquire Musical.ly, which was then folded into TikTok, reports Vox.
TikTok is an app that allows users can create short videos of themselves lip-syncing to songs, or acting out comedy sketches, with a database of music, effects and sound bites from which to choose. According to the reports, it has over 54 million monthly active users in India.
Why is it so controversial?
There is a growth of users in the community who sometimes soliciting explicit images of boys and girls. According to Vice, “some young users have complained on the platform about other people repeatedly asking them for nudes”. TikTok is meant to be restricted to over-12s only, but ages are “self-declared and not verified”.
While talking to the week, famous French YouTuber Le Roi des Rats said that predators “do not hide at all” on the app, “When a young girl dances in skimpy clothes or imitates sexy dances, you’re sure to find people in the comments either asking them to continue making these kinds of videos, saying they’re sexy or asking for their Snapchat or DM. Some of these girls are not even ten years old.”
In the recent hearing, Madras High Court mentioned many accidents caused by the app, “On March 27, an auto driver was arrested for posting a video that included a woman from Chennai on Tik Tok Mobile App. A 15-year-old girl is said to have committed suicide at Mumbai for being scolded by her grandmother for use of Tik Tok Mobile App. An old man is said to have fallen in the waterfalls in Valparai, while taking a selfie or Tik Tok video. Before many tragic incidents would occur, the Government has to take appropriate steps,” the court said.
