[Arguable] Should governments ban addictive social media apps like TikTok?

TikTok has over 1 billion users globally. Instagram has 2 billion. If these apps were countries, they would be some of the most highly populated countries in the world.

As concerns grow about misinformation, addiction and foreign control of these apps, how should governments respond? Are attempts to ban social media apps, like the Indian government’s TikTok ban in 2020, legitimate?

These are questions that have political, economic and cultural implications that go much beyond your ability to watch and share cat videos. We dissect the arguments for and against such bans, and consider whether regulation is even possible.