Debate: Should TikTok Be Banned in the U.S.?
A judge recently blocked President Trump’s order to ban all U.S. downloads of the video sharing app TikTok, which is currently owned by a Chinese company. Trump views the app as a national security threat, saying that the data it collects from American users may be accessible to the Chinese government. Defenders of the app say no evidence exists that the Chinese government could access American TikTok data, which is housed in the U.S. Listen to learn more about the controversy surrounding TikTok and then debate: Should TikTok be banned in the U.S.?
Read MoreDebate: Should Social Media Be Regulated?
Research shows that social media has a negative impact on the mental health of many young people. Photo-centered apps like Instagram, in particular, often display filtered images that create unrealistic ideals of beauty and cause feelings of social pressure and anxiety. Some companies have pledged to address the harms their products are causing, but many people believe that to truly solve the problem, the government needs to step in. Listen to a young reporter and a technology researcher discuss the effects of Instagram and other apps on teens and then debate: Should social media be regulated?
Read MoreDebate: Is Social Media a Reliable Source of News?
Social media platforms make it easy to share information openly and widely. Some platforms, like Twitter, have become sources of up-to-the-minute news, with people reporting on important events as they happen. Some say the varied perspectives and live reports from citizen journalists make these social media platforms a good source of news. The stories being shared on social media are not always accurate, though. Sometimes images and videos are altered, and those looking for “clicks” often share sensational stories, whether or not they are true. Listen to hear how propaganda and disinformation about the war in Ukraine are spreading online and then debate: Is social media a reliable source of the news?
Read MoreDebate: Are AI Beauty Filters Harmful?
Filters, the appearance-altering digital image effects often used on social media, can be fun to play with. But some believe they may be detrimental to mental health. TikTok’s Bold Glamour filter uses AI technology to compare a user's image to a data set of other facial images. It then redraws the user’s pixels, changing their face to conform to popular beauty standards. Some users' faces may change drastically when using the filter, leaving them wondering if the filter version of themselves is something they should strive for in real life. Listen to hear people react to the AI beauty filter and then debate: Are AI beauty filters harmful?
Read MoreCURRENT EVENT | March 21, 2024
Social media can be a big part of teenagers’ lives. Parents, government officials, and even teens themselves are discussing whether spending too much unsupervised time on social media apps such as TikTok, is a problem that could be solved with time restrictions. Proponents of time limits emphasize the destructive effects of excessive social media use on teens’ lives and mental health. Others say time restrictions can be easy to ignore and fail to address the real problem: social media apps designed to be addictive. Listen to hear an adolescent psychologist’s perspective on the issue and then debate: Should teens’ social media time be limited?
Story Length: 6:00
© 2023 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
03/06/2023
https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/2585-debate-should-teens-social-media-time-be-limited
Classroom Discussion Themes