On March 15, the House of Representatives passed a bill that could lead to the banning of the famous social media app, TikTok. The United States currently has the most amount of users on the app with around 150 million users according to Search Logistics. With the bill that was passed, it asks that Beijing’s parent company of TikTok known as Byte Dance be sold to the U.S.
The U.S. is concerned about TikTok’s parent company’s ties to China according to CBS News. The government says their reason for the ban is a matter of national security because China could be using it to steal data and information on U.S. citizens. With the bill passing in the House it now goes to Congress to vote on the bill which could take several months.
If Byte Dance doesn’t agree to sell TikTok, then that is when the app could get banned in the U.S. Many American users of the app are concerned about the possibility of TikTok being banned. Newton High School students are no different.
“I’m really just devastated. I feel like a piece of me died [hearing this information]. Like 2019 TikTok was such an era for me. Like renegade is in my mind that’s muscle memory. [TikTok] is a big part of me,” sophomore Amiyah Beard said.
Junior Amina Sulejmani and senior Carly Anderson, also don’t agree with the government’s decision if the app were to get banned. Anderson said the government’s decision didn’t surprise her.
“I think the TikTok ban is absolutely ridiculous even though it’s not an actual ban, they’re just leaving the database in China. If it does [get banned] we are going to find another app, but I don’t want to move to like Facebook or Instagram reels. [I’m scared to lose] all the collections I have and all the videos I’ve made and I’ve saved to my privates,” Sulejmani said.
TikTok not only allows its users to apply their creativity, but it is also a way to advertise and market businesses. Many brands, small businesses and companies utilize the app to attract more buyers and to gain a following.
“I think of how there are so many small businesses that have profited off TikTok and a lot of businesses just in general. And how many people solely just do TikTok and make a living off of the app. So I think it will quite literally throw the world in an utter spiral and if they do ban it,” Anderson said.
They all three admit they spend too much time on the app. Beard likes that the app gives its users a look into other people’s lives, while Anderson likes the algorithm of the app.
“I [like] the TikTok algorithm itself. You can see one TikTok and then the next you can see one exactly tied to that or a story and then the next person is adding on to that story. I definitely like that part about it most and the fact that you can find informational stuff on it like people do actually go and put up real information. TikTok has turned into the new Google. Somebody is out there with the truth i mean there is a lot of false [information], but some do it to give actual information,” Anderson said.
Anderson said she would most likely sleep more and go to the gym sometimes if the app were to get banned, while Beard and Sulejmani said they would watch more Instagram Reels.
“[I would probably sleep more and watch Instagram Reels]. Right now I really like scrolling through Pinterest, I love Pinterest, and making boards. I also like the Lemon8 app. It’s like this app kinda like Instagram with more ideas and inspo,” Sulejmani said. “Don’t ban TikTok. Free TikTok.”
