With over 170 million active users on TikTok in the United States and 1.925 billion worldwide users, TikTok has been hit with a ban by the federal government in the U.S. states, Backlinko.
The date was set on Jan. 19 to ban Tiktok, due to government officials seeing it as a potential national security risk. This led to many Influencers on TikTok making videos saying their goodbyes to all their fan bases and followers. There was also a percentage of other content creators that didn’t believe the ban was real and it was just said as a rumor. However, TikTok was banned around 8 p.m. on Jan. 19. When people clicked on the app it stated that there was a law banning TikTok in the U.S. and it was unavailable for now. It also read that President Trump was working on a solution when in office to keep the app working.
Users were shocked to wake up the next day and see TikTok was up and running in the U.S. again. Tiktok had a pop-up saying how President Trump set a 75-day extension to the app, meaning that the ban will be pushed to April 5.
In the meantime, TikTok is no longer available for download in the United States so those who deleted it after the ban cannot get it back. Reactions to the TikTok ban can be seen as mixed when it comes to the students here at Poway.
“I felt really upset because it had been with me since my childhood. I felt devastated that it wouldn’t make it to my senior year and it felt as if something was being ripped away from me,” senior Sophia Flores said.
Many students agree with Flores, but others see the negatives of the app.
“The app takes too much time away from people’s day,” junior Diego Meza said.
TikTok can take up a lot of time due to how addictive and entertaining it is, showing its endless streams of creativity, and funny, and fashionable videos. TikTok also keeps users hooked by constantly showing content that is specific to their liking.
Though it is very addictive, it can provide viewers with videos showing us what is going on in the world right now, and what to be aware of.
Dominguez had a realization, “I thought it was dumb, but I realized how much I used TikTok when I wasn’t able to access it. And I realized I have to do something else with my life because I’m addicted to it. I do think it was unnecessary,” junior Daniela Dominguez said.
Freshman Lily Garcia explains her emotion for the ban. She mentions how TikTok provides so much info that it feels like Google.
“I was on the verge of tears. I was so upset because it provided me with so much entertainment and knowledge. TikTok is like Google for me.” Garcia said. TikTok is a very educational app that is not like any other app. Not only can you watch specific videos that you like but you can also get paid by making content.
TikTok provides us with helpful and quick easy access to tasks that we may need help with such as helpful math videos, cooking videos, or videos on safety.
