U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that TikTok threatens national security, because the Chinese government could use it to spy on Americans or weaponize it to covertly influence the U.S. public. Owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, the popular app’s ties to Communist China have raised concerns among legislators. Discussions about banning TikTok have been ongoing for many years, but just recently a bill has been passed. Last March, the House of Representatives passed a bill to ban or force the sale of TikTok, but the Senate didn’t approve it. House Republicans then made a new and improved TikTok bill and attached it to the Israel-Ukraine foreign aid package. This tactic combined the two bills, and successfully led to its signing by President Joe Biden in late April.
Biden had already expressed that if the bill were to hit his desk he would sign it, which is exactly what he did. According to CNN, “The bill that Biden signed gives TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, 270 days to sell TikTok. Failure to do so would lead to significant consequences. TikTok would be prohibited from US app stores and from ‘internet hosting services’ that support it.”
TikTok is one of the most used apps in the world. Most students In FHS have used or heard of TikTok, and they express a variety of opinions about a possible TikTok ban. Many students believe that Tiktok does not benefit them in any way, and believe it only benefits the people who are influencers. “Some people rely on their income through TikTok as well as TikTok shops and promoting other products,” said Junior Kylie Drewry.
The app has influenced a lot of young people, though Junior Sam Roteman believes that it has influenced them in negative ways, saying, “It creates non-engaged kids, kids just want to be on their phones instead of being out and have real connections with people.” Roteman mentioned how he had deleted the app due to his extensive use of it. “I deleted it for a while; I felt like I got too addicted.” There are many mixed opinions on TikTok possibly being removed, and many believe that it will benefit young kids. Drewry said, “TikTok is damaging to other children’s brains.” Drewry gave a quick example of how TikTok has changed this generation, saying, “I was at a restaurant and I saw a six-year-old on TikTok and the parents were on TikTok, it takes away from the social skills that humans are supposed to have.”
On the other hand, Junior Hunter Messick stated that TikTok should be here to stay. “TikTok should not be banned; it’s not harmful, there could be harmful stuff on it but the app is not generally used for harmful stuff.” Messick believes that TikTok being removed won’t change anything, as “there are still other social media apps that people will go on.”
The possible chance of TikTok getting removed could push other social media apps to step up and make their apps better. As of right now the owner of TikTok, ByteDance, has nine months to either sell it or it will get removed. In nine months, their actions will decide the fate of one of America’s most popular apps.
