It is well known that TikTok is a major social media app. It has over a billion users worldwide. According to Halisise, the average user spends about an hour on TikTok a day and 25% of US TikTok users are 10-19 years old.
The app was launched in 2016 by the Chinese technology company, ByteDance. ByteDance develops media platforms.
The proposed problem with TikTok is the app can access data from its users, which means China has access to the personal info of US users.
“I feel like there is no problem with TikTok as long as kids are not being stupid and putting too much info in it,” said sophomore Austin Hartnett.
Hartnett has over 26 thousand followers and is not only a consumer of the app, but also a creator.
On Dec. 14, The House of Representatives passed a bill that would require ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a total ban in the United States. The bill will still have to pass the senate to become a law.
The next step would be to get it passed by the Senate. President Joe Biden confirmed he would sign it, but it would not matter if it doesn’t pass the Senate vote. At this time, it is unclear when the vote will take place.
Students all around the US will be affected by this. In a rare case, people may never use TikTok again.
“If TikTok were to be banned, I would be disappointed but there are still so many other things you could be doing with your time,” said Hartnett
