Whether heard on the news or from the hysterical influencers on TikTok, there is gossip all around that TikTok is or will be banned. The fear that the company ’ minds. Trump backed down from this idea as he wanted to attract young voters. Bans on TikTok have been proposed during the Biden administration but have not gained much support until this past month. In January 2023, the Project Texas plan was introduced, which would strictly monitor all US user data to decrease any security threats. This plan was unsuccessful. Again, rumors were spread that TikTok was going to be banned when the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was passed in the House of Representatives in March 2024. This further instilled fear in influencers and most of the American population about losing this popular platform. This fear progressed as President Biden passed a law on April 24, 2024 in an effort to secure TikTok or risk a nationwide ban. This law is forcing ’t push past the power the Chinese government has over TikTok placing several obstacles in America’s path. Investors must ask the Chinese government for permission to own this app, yet Beijing has made it clear that they have no intentions of selling the app. Another hold the Chinese government has over TikTok is its export-control list. In other words, the government has further say over how the technology is sold.
Technology has had its perks and its flaws, as it constantly draws in the attention of every person and intensifies the idea of instant gratification. In 2024, the average user spends 58 minutes and 24 seconds on TikTok daily–this amount doubling since 2019. However, teenagers use TikTok far more often than adults do with the percentage being 22% of adolescents spending 2-3 hours and adults only spending 52 minutes each day. Generation Z is especially affected by TikTok, being the highest demographic audience on the app.
IHHS sophomores Danielle Pulice and Emma Gombas, as well as freshman Victoria Brock, shared that they spend up to 3 and a half hours each day on TikTok. The substantial amount of time spent on TikTok and social media in general may be surprising to all users.
Gombas shares a positive outlook relating to TikTok, saying, “It has a positive effect on me because I met so many people from there and it even boosted my confidence.” The community expressed that TikTok can be a very helpful tool when building one’s self love. The useful parts of the TikTok community can further help teens as Brock voices, “I think it positively affects me because it opens my mind and I also see what is happening with others around me.” New ideas and knowledge can be spread around to those who are influenced by TikTok. Pulice brings up a negative point about TikTok, saying, “TikTok may negatively affect me as well because I am on my phone a lot more and use up a lot of time that I could have used more productively.” The distraction of social media is a key flaw of TikTok as several people could partake in more advantageous activities instead with the time spent on the app. On the other hand, Pulice brings up the relevance of TikTok and how it updates those on new trends and activities to try. Some of these trends can include certain songs that have boomed in popularity all due to TikTok. This app has made it far easier for aspiring artists to get noticed by the public and further a publishing company.
TikTok plays a significant role in society, and widespread hysteria resulted for those influenced by this platform as the law banning it was finally put into place. Still, the final steps of putting an end to this app will be rather difficult.
