Top lesson: What a TikTok ban might mean + News wrap 3/24/23 + Student video
March 23, 2023
Summary
TikTok is the fastest growing app on the planet with more than 150 million monthly users in the U.S. alone. But that popularity does not extend to Capitol Hill where its defenders are in the minority. Laura Barrón-López looks into the potential personal, political and international fallout should the government outlaw the platform.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching! You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Five Facts
- Who held hearings over the risks presented by TikTok?
- What are some of the concerns related to the social media site?
- Why is TikTok important for many of the people featured in this story?
- Where is ownership of TikTok based?
- How has TikTok tried to address concerns?
Focus Questions
What do you think should be done about security risks TikTok poses? Is this something that concerns you? Why or why not? Do you relate to the TikTok user featured in this story or other TikTok users you know and the reasons they use TikTok? Why or why not?
Media literacy: This story mentions that other social media platforms offer similar security and privacy risks to TikTok. Why do you think TikTok is the focus of the story, then?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
For More
What students can do: How could TikTok (or other social media companies) change so that they seem like less of a threat to lawmakers and others? First, read the article below. Then list out ways TikTok updated rules in an attempt to ease concerns ahead of Congressional hearings. What concerns do these changes address? What do they fail to address?
TikTok updates app rules ahead of CEO’s U.S. congressional hearing
Printed TikTok logos are seen in this illustration taken February 15, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Student Video of the Day
“How can young people use social media to create positive change?” via Student Reporting Labs
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