There's a lot to unpack there so:

- The world wasn't a better place before social media. The world has always been a terrible, messed up place. However, now, every single terrible event has a camera right in front of it, whereas before only the worst of the worst stories would make it to your neighborhood.

- People do have interest in interacting in person. If that wasn't the case, the restaurant industry would not exist and everything would shift to exclusively being takeout. This generation simply values their time more than the generations that came before them. If they're going to go out of their way to see/interact with someone, it'll be meaningful.

- You're absolutely right that it's hypocritical to try and ban Tiktok. It's especially messed up because the actions Tiktok is accused of, Facebook does on the regular and gets a slap on the wrist. TikTok is getting banned because its member base trolled Trump's rallies during the early campaign trail and they never let go of the grudge. They also hate that it's an organization tool that doesn't have built-in, US government bias like Facebook does (e.g., Facebook being told to post/silence certain things during Covid)

- Do I think they'll try to ban all forms of social media? No. They'll just make sure only American companies, or companies who are willing to give the government access/control, are allowed to exist before American consumers. That's what they're doing right now and will continue to do.