Finnish researcher argues against TikTok ban amid rising concerns in United States

Discussions about banning TikTok have gained momentum recently. In the United States, Congress decided in April that TikTok must be banned or sold within a specified timeframe. Similarly, many members of the Finnish Parliament are inclined to restrict the app.

Tanja Sihvonen, a researcher from the University of Vaasa studying TikTok, dismisses the idea of a ban as unethical. She emphasizes that the conversation about banning TikTok should not even occur, especially given the lack of research about the platform in Finland. “We don’t ban other communication tools. It’s a technological application that people use because they find value in it,” Sihvonen argues.

Sihvonen notes that fear of the unfamiliar and the perception that youth are “wrong” underpin the opposition to TikTok. She questions why no one has suggested banning other platforms while criticism is specifically directed at TikTok.

With 1.5 million users in Finland, over half of the monthly users are aged 18-24, with nearly half of 13-18-year-olds getting their news from TikTok. The app operates as a business secret, and its algorithms strongly influence content visibility, making it difficult to ascertain why certain content is shown.

Sihvonen believes TikTok can serve as a news source, despite its reliability being debated. The platform’s strength lies in its diverse content, particularly on major news topics, reaching audiences less engaged with traditional media. Creating journalism for TikTok is also relatively easy and cost-effective compared to traditional broadcasting.

Her research, initiated before TikTok’s popularity surge, highlights a trend where younger generations consume journalism in ways that diverge from traditional practices. While interest in current events remains strong, the way they access this information has shifted significantly.