TikTok Turmoil: Students Speak out on Potential App Ban
(Image courtesy of Plann)
In the digital age where social media dominates campus life, the recent TikTok ban is bound to stir reactions from students.
According to the New York Times, President Biden recently signed a bill into effect giving TikTok one year to divest from its Chinese owned parent company, Bytedance. If TikTok fails to do so, companies such as Apple and Google will no longer be allowed to legally host the app in America.
With 170 million Americans using the app, the possibility of a ban has raised concerns.
Annabelle Brown, a biology major, feels the government has misplaced their priorities. “I think it’s dumb. Of all the things for the government to focus on, they’re gonna focus on a TikTok ban?”
However, she says she understands why they feel the need to create this ban. “I get it. It’s addicting and it decreases your attention span. Social media in general can cause depression.”
The possibility of a TikTok ban may be especially relevant for college students due to several campuses already banning the app from their WiFi networks, according to The New York Times.
The United States ban of the app is far from unprecedented. India has already banned the app and several other countries have banned the app from official devices, according to The New York Times.
JC Crawford, a nursing student, says he opposes the ban and appreciates the unique ecosystem that exists on the platform. “I like TikTok, it’s like a whole different world.”
David Tessmann, an exercise science major, echoed Crawford’s view. Tessmann questions if TikTok poses a real threat saying, “My stuff is in there and I’m fine.”
With President Biden recently signing the bill into effect, the discussion of TikTok’s fate continues to spark debate on campus.
