In recent years, Tiktok has become one of the most used social media platforms by teenagers. With over 1 billion users all around the world, the app has become an absolute success, but due to a bill proposed by Congress, it may come to an end.
The FBI has been investigating and has come to the conclusion that TikTok could possibly have security risks. They argue that the Chinese government could be conducting surveillance on Tiktok users in the U.S. due to them having their hands on the software of millions of device users in the United States. The lawmakers assure that the app won’t be banned, if they obtain a new owner. The House of Representatives is making a bill that forces the owners of TikTok, Bytedance to sell the app or else it will become banned in the US.
With this in mind, Tiktok users are feeling all types of ways. Some are angry, others feel unsafe, and many happy, thinking the banning of the app could actually be something beneficial for teenagers.
Sebastian Figueroa (‘24) states, “Honestly, I feel pretty bad about the ban, because TikTok is one of my favorite apps.” He continues, “I hope the app doesn’t end up getting banned because the app helps people in all kinds of ways, from recipes to tutorials to advice. I sometimes watch recipes and save them to try later.”
Isaachar Cortez (‘24) shared that he doesn’t spend that much time on the app; he finds other apps more entertaining, such as Instagram, Netflix and Youtube. He states, “It’s time people take a break from the app. Some people are too caught up on trends and it’s getting annoying.”
While some users are indifferent about their privacy, others are really concerned and are afraid they might get hacked.
Jonathan Sanchez (‘25) confessed he felt scared as the news surged. “I was debating whether to delete the app or not, but after a while, I decided to, for my security.” He added, “ I don’t want the government of another country to have access to my personal information, especially because I have everything on my phone, including my card.”
Kevin Hernandez (‘24) also decided to take action and delete the app: “if the company does decide to sell the app to someone trustworthy, I would reinstall the app. I love using the app, but my security is more important.”
