TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps in the world. The US Government has attempted to ban the app multiple times, citing it as a “National Security Risk”. 170 Million American Users will begin to slowly lose access to it, as of Jan. 17 with the 9-0 vote from the Supreme Court for banning it. Unless the China-based owner, ByteDance, sells off its US operation by 1/19/25, TikTok will become TikTook here in the states.
Abraham Lincoln students shared their opinions to Echoes staff on whether the banning was beneficial to the country or not.
”I personally don’t care because I don’t use TikTok,” said freshman Alice Kennedy. “And I think that it could be beneficial because people are distracted. But, it is also an evident violation of our constitutional right, freedom of speech.”
“I don’t really care about it because I don’t have TikTok,” said freshman Adrienne Stotts. “However, I have heard many opinions on it and think it is caused by misunderstanding. Also, TikTok has become a cultural way of communicating with people all over the country and even the world. Banning TikTok is unconstitutional.”
“I feel really sad about what I am going to do with my life,” sophomore Addy Brown said. “I get so bored very easily and TikTok makes my day. It helps my day go by so fast I am going to miss it but I don’t think it is going to get banned anyways.”
“I honestly don’t get why they want to ban it so badly, it’s happened basically every year since Musically became TikTok, they think there won’t just be a repeat app.” freshmen Mickey Smith said. “Vine, Musically, then TikTok, oh brother.”
The students also shared their thoughts on whether the banning was justified.
“No,” sophomore Connor Knowlton said. “I don’t think that it is fair because it would be a learning disadvantage because I learn so much on TikTok. It’s insane.”
“No. We have unalienable rights to freedom of speech and expression, and the ban violates that.” Kennedy said. “I also think the government is too paranoid about the Chinese government.”
Some students believe the reasons given by the government are not the true reasons behind their actions.
“Well because people think China is spying on people in the United States,” Brown also said. “And taking people’s information that’s really why they are banning it.”
“I do believe that they have reasons to ban TikTok, but I don’t think they are good ones.” Stotts said.
Clearly the ban is not looked favorably upon by most students. With some believing the reasons are ludicrous and others that believe the reasons are not even genuine. More than likely, there will be an app to take its place, as of now it appears that “RedNote” is a strong contender. But with the Supreme Court banning an app, it raises the question of if more apps will be banned in the future.
This is a developing story.
