RAPID RESPONSE: Can the Government Ban TikTok?

TikTok has become a flashpoint in American politics– with lawmakers raising concerns over what they see as the company’s failure to protect user data and moderate harmful content. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew recently faced questions from Congress members alleging the app is handing over sensitive user data to the Chinese Communist party. Many of the concerns lawmakers raised also apply to other apps and U.S. technology companies. The hearing left many TikTok users concerned with the notion that the federal government may ban the popular app (over 150 million Americans are on TikTok.) Many state governments and the federal government have already banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices, citing security risks.

The hearing shows the disconnect between members of Congress who are concerned about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance and TikTok users who want to be able to keep making and watching short, engaging videos about cooking, makeup, and other topics. This disconnect raises lots of questions: Can the government ban a social media app like TikTok? What precedent does this set? How is the personal data collected by technology companies, like TikTok, used?

Your Challenge: Record a short video (under 3 minutes) describing your experiences, conversations with friends and parents, and explaining your opinions about the debate over TikTok and the potential ban of the app in the United States.

DEADLINE: Monday, April 10, 2023

• What do you know about the recent TikTok hearings in Congress?
• Have you seen TikTok videos about the hearings? If so, describe what you’ve seen.
• Have you learned about the hearings from other sources, besides TikTok?
• What are your thoughts on the possible banning of TikTok?
• How often do you think about the ways technology companies handle your user data?
• What does online privacy mean to you?
• Do you feel like you understand all the ways data about you gets used?
• If so, how do you feel about the ways your data is collected? If you don’t feel like you understand, what do you want to know?
• Do you think the government should ban apps they deem dangerous?

Record another student: Record a student in your school and/or community using the suggested questions as a guide. Add your own questions too, and ask good follow up questions based on the answers you hear.

Record yourself: This could be in the form of a video diary, where you record yourself talking straight to the camera using the suggested questions.

CONSIDER THESE EXAMPLES AS YOU PRODUCE YOUR MEDIA, VIDEO WILL BE EDITED INTO A MONTAGE BY SRL EDITORS:

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Create a Montage: Edit together five to eight responses, post to your program’s social media accounts and tag us. This piece would be great content for your school show as well. Throw in some B-Roll if you want an extra challenge and aim to include a diverse representation of students in your school.

@studentreportinglabs — Instagram

@reportinglabs — Twitter

@reportinglabs — TikTok

ON CAMERA IDENTIFICATION: For the record, please say and spell your full name (first and last) on camera. Also please describe how you want to be identified in this video. For example, “I’m an 11th grade student at Canyon High School in Santa Clarita, California” NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS USED BY SRL’S EDITORS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS ON SCREEN. WE NEED IT IN ORDER TO PUBLISH YOUR VIDEO.

• Decide which option you would like to pursue.
• Brainstorm interview subjects and research the topic. If you are interviewing other students, reach out to your interview subject(s) for a pre-interview and schedule a recording date.
• Prepare and practice.
• Record the interview(s) and make sure to thank your subject for their time. They must sign our media release if they are under 18.
• Transfer your footage to your computer or device and transcribe using Otter or similar service.
• Before uploading your video, watch it. Submit your raw video and transcripts using this SUBMISSION FORM to submit your materials. We encourage educators to watch the videos and review them for technical issues, and ONLY SUBMIT THE BEST 5 PER SCHOOL OR CLASS.

• WATCH: this Level Up tutorial on how to film a Rapid Response
• USE/DOWNLOAD: this RAPID RESPONSES SKILLS AND STANDARDS CHECKLIST. It is important to follow these guidelines if you would like your video to be considered for publication.

Rename the video file with your information: STATE_School_Name_TikTokBan.mp4

Example: CT_BensonHigh_SallySmith_TikTokBan.mp4

File type: .mp4, codec: h.264, resolution: 1920x1080, 30fps

Exporting .mp4 using Premiere or Final Cut Pro

EXAMPLE OF DESIRED COMPOSITION FOR RAPID RESPONSES:

Subject is looking at the camera, centered, from the chest up, normal headroom.

This assignment does not have an active deadline to submit to PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. However, students are encouraged to publish their stories on their school/club/program website or through video/social platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or Twitter and tag Student Reporting Labs. Check with your teacher to find out instructions for class submissions.

FACEBOOK: /STUDENTREPORTINGLABS

TWITTER: @REPORTINGLABS

INSTAGRAM: @STUDENTREPORTINGLABS

TIKTOK: @REPORTINGLABS