08 April,2019 08:10 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Delnaz Irani and Shivin Narang
Tamil Nadu IT minister M Manikandan in February had said that he would request the state government to ban the video-sharing application TikTok in the state. Now, two months later, Madras High Court is requesting the centre to ban the app. Here is what Delnaaz Irani, Shivin Narang and other TV actors have to say about it.
I haven't come across any explicit sexual content on the app. In fact, if any of the videos have a hint of action that could potentially physically harm someone, have explicit warnings attached by the app stating that such actions should not be practised. I know of many videos that have been taken down because they were inappropriate in some way. So I am pretty sure that their team must be taking a reasonable amount of care to ensure that the platform is not abused. Having said that, it is a public platform and therefore is prone to people using it incorrectly. That doesn't make the app necessarily at fault. Technology is a tool. Misuse is by human beings. The tool can be used for entertainment or for publishing rubbish. The onus lies in the hands of the person using the technology. However, the app needs to stay alert so that abuse is minimised.
Well, children can access porn anywhere if they google. There are so many websites which provide free porn. This appeal to ban the app is meaningless. If they really want to ban porn, appeal high court to ban all the websites. Besides, only banning won't help, sex education is important. In India, sex education is a taboo. Schools must add this subject to make children aware.
I'm not here to support any app, neither am I trying to promote anything, but I don't understand why only this app? Where pornography is concerned, then there are so many other apps that we all use that should be banned. Actually, it all depends on us, the users. I clearly remember there was a challenge called #kikichallenge, and I strongly opposed that as there was a huge possibility of an accident, and that challenge got banned in a few days. But only because of a few users who are misusing the app, I don't think the app should be banned. Instead, they should warn the app to be strict with their guidelines, that's all I feel.
I personally don't use the app since it's not an application of my interest, although I'm aware that the application is widely used by youngsters and teenagers. I strongly think kids and teenagers should have supervised internet access and mobile time-out and should be made to indulge more in outdoor activities which promote holistic growth. It's unfortunate that the government has to take such a strong step. But if any application exposes a child to pornography or inappropriate content, then the necessary steps must be taken. I think adults should use applications sensibly and set an example for the younger generation, not just with this app but any mobile application.
I feel technology is increasing day by day and definitely, children are the softest targets to fall prey to whatever unethical things that are going on. If there is a possibility of controlling the kind of content the app is promoting, that would be great. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to control technology. Initially, even when YouTube had started, wrong activities were being projected. People did feel that it is encroachment in our culture which is not good, especially for children who are prone to get into these activities. So, it is very difficult to control it but definitely, if cybercrime can work on it, it will be great and children will be safe from these types of things.
I think that this app is taking over everywhere. I see people making videos while driving cars, which can be dangerous. I don't support the app at all. It is an addiction and if it's encouraging pornography which is making children vulnerable to sexual predators, then that's a very serious matter. I feel that whatever step is taken against it is right, I totally support the ban.
I feel the app is complete time pass. Why are kids exposed to the cell phone is my question. Kids using mobiles is uncalled for. If I were a parent, I would never give my child a phone. I don't know much about the app so I can't really talk about it but obviously, if it's banned then there has to be a reason for it.
It depends on person to person, everyone is addicted to something or the other. There are people who are addicted to Facebook and Instagram as well. On TikTok, people do make such videos but there are options to report or block. Even a 10-year-old is using the app these days. So, I feel that the application should be age-restricted. Getting it banned in a particular state won't help as it already has several users around the world. Today this app is banned, tomorrow another similar kind of application might come, then what would they do?
I am not on the app, though I have seen a lot of videos. But whatever I have seen is that people are having fun, making dance videos, something interactive. If you take any social media platform, it has both pros and cons. So, it's up to you, banning anything is not the solution because if they ban this, something else will come up. I feel you can't control social media.
I haven't downloaded the app so I don't know how the app works but I think I have been a part of a video a couple of months ago. It's not only about this app, but generally, I feel that there should be an age for using social media. Parents should keep their children away from social media because it is not healthy. I think that awareness helps more than telling somebody to stop using a particular site.
I definitely believe not only this app but other mediums also don't have any rules and regulations. People upload any kind of content which is not good for the kids. If the government has banned it, I support it because the biggest problem in our country is addiction to your mobile phone. I feel it's a good step taken by the government. According to me, all such things where nudity is shown should be banned or there should be an age restriction.
We cannot blame the app for pornography. It is all over social media; anyone can see it anywhere. Nowadays, kids are using mobile phones and they know how to use them very well. So, by banning the app, I feel they are making it more famous by getting it in the news. People in other states will watch it more out of curiosity.
Also read: Madras HC asks centre to ban TikTok app: Kids are vulnerable to sexual predators
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