Within days, the popular social media app and current largest news outlet, TikTok, is set to be banned. Currently, the app is scheduled to be outlawed on Jan. 19 as long as the U.S Supreme court upholds the bipartisan law.
The bipartisan law was introduced in April 2024 as a means to protect American citizens from foreign outlets. Apps like TikTok are controlled by foreign adversaries and therefore possibly pose serious risks to United States national security. TikTok allows foreign influence to integrate to the American public.
The legislation gives TikTok a chance to find new owners before being wiped from Apple and Google apple stores in the United States. However, if the law is passed successfully, TikTok will be prohibited from usage in the United States and will be banned from U.S app stores and web hosting services.
“I feel like America has worse and more urgent issues to focus on right now. I don’t think we should be spending so much time and energy focused on an app,”said senior Priya Suresh.
The talk of banning the app isn’t something new. The idea was originally introduced during the height of the pandemic. Former President Donald Trump first announced ideas to ban the app from operating in the U.S in April of 2020. The plan however was paused later by the Trump administration. Since then, the app has experienced numerous outlaw threats.
While the concerns regarding national security in relation to TikTok are serious, the app has become a platform fueled by community.
“People are so comfortable posting their lives on Tik Tok that I have been able to find people who have similar lives and aspirations as me. Seeing honest content about people’s lives makes me feel more seen and less like I have to stick to the social norms of today’s society on social media,” shared senior Becca Hahm.
Billions of people across the world rely on not only the connectivity and sense of community TikTok has provided but also the open opportunities for success the app has presented.
Millions of businesses across the United States rely on the app for their success. In 2023 alone, the app contributed to more than $24 billion dollars and created 224,000 jobs in the United States alone. The platform has allowed small business creators to create a living and grow their ideas to a whole new level.
“Tik Tok has allowed a lot of my friends to be able to pursue dreams and content creation. The algorithm has made it so small creators and businesses can flourish and build a platform,” expressed senior Sophia Foad.
The possible ban of TikTok has created unexpected challenges for many different consumers of the app. Many now worry what other platform they can gravitate towards and still keep the community they have established through TikTok.
