Tag: TikTok

Is Following Fitness Influencers from Social Media Beneficial?

By: Andrew Howle

As far as we know, social media has taken over the world. It is everywhere around us, and there is no escaping it. Everything you do can be posted online and shared with everyone. This may be potentially a good or bad thing in this generation. Many people have taken up the habit of following social media influencers, especially those who promote fitness. This begs the question: Is following people like fitness influencers beneficial for people to do?

Following these influencers can have positives and negatives. One positive of following a fitness influencer is knowledge. I gain a lot of expertise personally from watching people like Sam Sulek perform workouts. These workouts can educate people very well on the basics of fitness. These videos teach new gym goers how to properly lift without causing an injury. So many clueless people in the world have no absolute idea how to lift properly. I know several people have torn pecs or biceps from lifting. Another huge positive to watching influencers is motivation. Many people are inspired daily by pages on social media of people lifting. When I first started lifting, I was motivated to go to the gym by seeing workouts on my Fyp on TikTok. These videos let me know what was achievable by living a healthy lifestyle. This helped me focus on myself a lot. I considered the gym a therapy to escape my problems in the world. Enough about the positives of social media pages. There are a precise amount of negatives that come with social media fitness. The most notable one is self-comparison or body dysmorphia, which is when people compare their bodies to the bodies of social media influencers. This causes people to be hard on themselves and their appearance. This can be very bad for their mental health. Which is why scrolling through social media should be moderated.

In conclusion, there are immense pros and cons to following fitness accounts. People should follow the accounts for the right reason, not the wrong one. They should actively gain knowledge and motivation from the videos. Following social media influencers is beneficial in moderation. 

Why TikTok shouldn’t be banned 

By: Braelen Lewis

TikTok, the best social media app which is known for its short videos, has become an important part of today’s world. While some have called for its banning, particularly due to concerns over privacy, security, and its potential impact on younger users, there are compelling reasons why TikTok should not be banned. First of all, TikTok has become a significant platform for creativity, providing people with the tools to express themselves in creative  ways. It pushes people to create art, music, dance, and share unique perspectives, fostering creativity in ways that traditional media platforms cannot match. Through its algorithm, TikTok promotes a level playing field where both amateur creators and established stars can gain visibility. This media production allows for diverse voices to be heard, particularly marginalized communities, who might otherwise be overlooked on more conventional platforms. Furthermore, TikTok has fostered an important cultural exchange. Users from different countries and backgrounds interact and learn from each other, creating a shared global experience. Although the official date for the ban is set to be on January 19th the newly elected president has said that he will do everything that he can to save it. This is due to the fact that he believes that the app helped him win the majority vote of young voters due to his large following. I hope that president trump will do what is right and save it from being banned because I do not want to move to instagram reels because on TikTok there is a sense of community that is missing on every other social media app. I will also miss the app due to the streak feature where I have multiple TikTok streams over two hundred with many other people. I also believe that it is not in the government’s interest to ban the app because although they believe that it does all these bad things, if they end up banning it without solid proof the people will be in outrage with large protests and riots to occur. Certainly TikTok does not deserve to be banned because it will ruin many small businesses and hurt many civilians and Jo has used the app for many years.

Will TikTok get Banned

By: Henry Jones

As of January 2025, the question of whether TikTok will get is still uncertain. However, there are multiple factors that could make a difference in the final outcome. To begin, TikTok has faced scrutiny in multiple countries, particularly the United States, due to concerns over its data collection practices and its ties to China. Governments have raised alarms about the possibility of the Chinese government accessing user data, leading to national security concerns. Also, several U.S. states and other countries have already banned TikTok on government-issued devices for security reasons. There have also been discussions in Congress about a potential nationwide ban, however, no sweeping federal ban has been implemented yet, and legal challenges would likely make such a move complex. In TikTok’s defense they have worked to address security concerns by shifting its data storage practices. For example, the company has started storing some U.S. user data in the U.S. and Europe, in an effort to mitigate concerns about Chinese government access. They have aslo made efforts to demonstrate transparency by establishing independent oversight boards and opening up their operations to external audits. These measures aim to show regulators that they are addressing concerns about user privacy and content moderation. 

In terms of how it will effect the users of the app, Banning TikTok would have economic and cultural repercussions, especially for creators, businesses, and advertisers who rely on the platform. It has become a global  force, with millions of active users and a significant influence on entertainment, trends, and social media marketing. In conclusion, the possibility of TikTok being banned is still a subject of debate, it faces significant legal, political, and economic challenges. Whether TikTok gets banned will largely depend on the political climate, national security concerns, and ongoing efforts by the company to address regulatory issues. However, given the app’s massive global influence and user base, it’s also possible that governments might choose to regulate TikTok more heavily rather than implement an outright ban. While a TikTok ban isn’t off the table, it’s also not a certainty in 2025, and the outcome will likely depend on a mix of political, legal, and diplomatic factors. In my opinion, I don’t think it will get banned, but mostly because I want it to stay.

Ranking Social Media Platforms

By: Olivia Cogswell

People all around the world have had a growing obsession with social media platforms. New ones have been created to replace old ones or to even copy and modify current ones. Children, teens, and adults go on social media as a way to cure boredom, and even get so drawn into what they are watching due to algorithms that personalize each account to the person. However, certain social media platforms are superior to others. 

Pinterest comes in sixth place. Pinterest is a platform in which people use to get craft ideas, recipes, clothing styles, and much more. It is customizable to the user and what they are most interested in when using the app. This is a good platform because you are able to create boards with different category names so that people can find it later. It also allows you to follow people, so that you can gain inspiration from their boards. However this platform is not very entertaining. It easily boards off and is not something people click on often to fill their free time. Yes, it is helpful in some ways, it is not one that draws users attention unless they are looking for specific information. So, Pinterest is used less for pleasure and more for guidance and ideas. 

Twitter comes in fifth place. Twitter has been around since 2006, and since then has been renamed to X. Its popularity has also decreased since it was created due to other platforms created to modify it. People go on there to share their thoughts and spread news. Majority of users are older and had it when it was first created. Although it is entertaining to hear people’s opinions on certain subject matters, and see memes that have been spreading for years. It is not a platform that keeps many people entertained for periods of time. 

Facebook comes in fourth place. Facebook has also been around since 2004. It was one of the first popular social media platforms. Although many people do have Facebook accounts, its main audience is adults. Parents usually post updates of their kids, and many schools keep accounts in order to keep parents informed. So it is multi-use. Due to its change in order to keep up with competing platforms, Facebook added reels which allow users to stay entertained on the app. This increases its popularity with different age groups and brings the platform up in the ranking. Not only does it allow entertainment for adults, but it tries to appeal to younger generations who need to swipe. 

Instagram comes in third place. Instagram is a multi-use platform. There is so much that can be done. People can post photos, watch reels, interact with others, and keep informed. Due to the setup of the platform, it appeals to so many different audiences compared to facebook. It provides entertainment and can also allow people to start small businesses with the connectivity of the app. Also the security on the app, allows many people to feel comfortable posting. They give you access to make accounts private as well as turning off comments, blocking certain people, and limiting those who can contact you personally. 

Snapchat comes in second place. Snapchat is very similar to any texting app. Although it allows you to send pictures and videos to your friends and keep up to date with them. It allows you to pick and choose who has access to message you which makes it safer and better. Snapchat also has its form of reels, which many people are entertained by due to the fact that it is customized by which video you’re interested in. Users can also post on there and can choose who can see what. Snapchat also allows you to save pictures and videos to memories which allows you to go back and watch the things you have been up too through the years. 

TikTok comes in first place. Tiktok is a steadily growing platform. It allows you to watch and make videos and share them with friends. It is also a great time killer and keeps people entertained by personalizing the for you page to individuals. It also has created the TikTok shop which allows you to see certain items on your feed and click and buy, these items are usually much cheaper than other store brands. The shop is also a great way for small businesses to grow companies and spread their brand around by making descriptive videos and posting them.