The countdown to January 19th begins, as the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the federal law banning the social app Tiktok.
Tiktok, is a social media platform owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance, known for its user- tailored algorithms and strong influence on pop culture. The app has created mega-stars like Doja Cat with its presence on the music scene, helped millions find their next favorite recipe, and redefined how we interact with social media making millionaires overnight.
But with the good comes the bad: The app has been heavily scrutinized for its influence on social media addiction, mental health issues, spreading misinformation, and, most importantly, data-privacy violations. TikTok’s demise in the United States comes from its connections to the Chinese Government, cited by the Director of the FBI Chris Wray, who believes TikTok raises national security concerns, with the possibility to control American devices and access to American user’s Data. H.R.7521 was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 13th, 2024, and upheld by the Supreme Court on January 19th, 2025, stating that Tik tok will be banned unless sold by its Chinese parent company.
International Media professor Jeffery Wilkinson believes that the Tik Tok ban is a matter of national security, “The U.S. Government is trying to keep a collaborative competition…rather than a conflict.” says Wilkinson, “Here’s a gift, and there’s something inside of it that’s not good for you. Shouldn’t we be aware of it?”
Tiktok is a gift that keeps on giving, and with the bad comes good. Besides viral audios, new dances, many people found opportunity. Many people want to keep Tiktok in America because of its ability to help form communities, promote businesses, and build relationships beyond barriers. As many citizens believe the American government wants to censor the social efforts of its citizens, other citizens believe the ban will cause them to lose a valuable source of income.
Nadia Lloyd, a fourth-year Broadcast Journalism student has gone viral on Tik tok multiple times, making almost five-thousand dollars from content, brand deals and merchandise. She believes that Tik tok is more than a media platform, “I do think that it’s going to be losing a major part of social media world, just given that Tik Tok has taken the world by storm…not only is it an information hub in a place where people can connect easily…if Tik Tok is your main source of income, they will be losing a huge source of income.”
As businesses use tiktok to promote products, and artists use the platform to share music, artwork and creations, the platform’s ban removes billions of eyes that could possibly change their lives. “It’s not a real place, but it has endless opportunities. It’s crazy how you can literally just post something and all of a sudden you start making hundreds of dollars.”
So what now?
According to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (H.R.7521), Tik tok needs to be bought out from its parent company, or the app will be banned. Yet, users have already flocked to alternative apps. Many have turned to Instagram with its use of ‘Instagram Reels’,short form videos similar to Tik Toks, and Red Note.
RedNote, also known as Xiaohongsh, is a chinese app called the ‘alternative Tik Tok’, being used by Tik Tok fans making jokes that they are willingly giving away their information and meeting their ‘chinese spies’. As the cultural differences on the app grow, the two nations’ citizens have embraced each other, despite language barriers. Regardless if Tik Tok is purchased before January 19th, the American people have made it clear that media is meant to be shared.
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