TikTok is a video-sharing, social media platform launched in September 2016. Since then, it has exploded in popularity and, as of December 2024, there were over 50 million daily users in the United States alone. It’s especially popular among Gen Z and younger generations. “On TikTok, I like to watch mood boards of my favorite actors. Also Jeff Buckley content,” said 9th grader, Easton Peterson. “I usually watch edits or random funny videos,” said 9th grader, Rin Kennedy.
Despite its popularity, the United States government has had concerns over how TikTok handles the personal information of its users. According to American University, they allege that, under a 2017 National Intelligence law in China, the government can force ByteDance, the Chinese-based parent company of TikTok, to gather TikTok user data. On January 18, 2025, the TikTok ban that the United States government had been working on finally went into effect, after ByteDance refused to sell the app to an American company. The app was banned nationwide for almost a day, until it went back up on January 19th. TikTok cites President Donald Trump as the reason for the app going back up, and, on January 20th, the day he took office, Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban for 75 days. This is controversial because President Trump proposed the original TikTok ban during his first term in mid-2020.
Students all around Osbourn had strong opinions on the ban because a large percentage of Gen Z uses the app. “I don’t think the government should be worrying about this. They should be more worried about global warming and the wars going on, not some app,” said 9th grader, Bri Moody.
A lot of the students also thought the government was not approaching the situation well. “There is nothing wrong with the app. The government just wants power against TikTok, which is stupid,” said Kennedy. “I think the government’s concerns about TikTok are a form of propaganda, as well as a matter of control. They just say ‘TikTok is bad’ because it’s not American-owned,” said 12th grader, Cash Short.
When the ban was in effect, students reacted negatively to the app’s temporary ban. “I was bored because I use the app a lot during my free time,” said 9th grader Sophia Espinoza. “When TikTok was banned, I was at a party watching it and when it officially was banned, my for you page refreshed and it didn’t work anymore. I went to the bathroom and I actually almost cried,” said 9th grader Rosa Brizuela.
While a lot of the students personally opposed the ban, some were more understanding of the government’s concerns about TikTok.”I would say I care a little bit about the government’s concerns. I do care about my privacy, but I don’t think TikTok is as bad as they’re making it out to be. American companies track us just as much, if not even more. American companies have a lot more data leak problems. I trust TikTok more than apps like Facebook and Instagram,” said 10th grader, Matt Dalmas. “I think privacy and safety are equal in terms of importance. Both are two completely different things. No matter what happens, nothing will change. It’s just the internet without TikTok,” said Moody.
With this ban, there is a person or a group of people who are the main subjects to blame for it. “I would say Trump is to blame for the ban. He’s the first person I remember wanting to ban TikTok and bringing this up. There might be other people who wanted this, but I think if Trump wasn’t the first one to bring up this idea, it wouldn’t be an issue. He’s loud and talks too much, and he was the first one to get it out there,” said Dalmas. “I’m not thrilled that TikTok credited him for removing the ban when he was the one who wanted the app to be banned in the first place,” said Brizuela.
Some students have their own opinions and ideas on why the app was only banned for a couple of hours. “I think the ban was only 12 hours long to make us like Trump better for bringing it back. It was all a stunt to get the younger people on his side,” said Brizuela. “It was all set up for people to praise Trump and favor him more since he ‘unbanned’ the app,” said Espinoza.
Right now, the ban is on hold, but it could go into effect again in April if ByteDance does not sell the app to an American company or the Trump administration does not reach a deal with ByteDance. This is an uncertain time in the world of social media, but no matter what happens, there will always be apps that people can enjoy.
