TikTok temporarily ceased operations the night of Jan. 18. This stemmed from the , which passed the House with bipartisan support on March 13, 2024, and was signed into law by former President Joseph Biden on April 24, 2024.
The ban sparked widespread debate, with the platform’s regular users loudly expressing their frustration online. Some TikTok creators, dubbed “TikTok refugees,” migrated before the ban took effect to alternative sources of short-form content, such as Instagram Reels or RedNote. Personally, I don’t use TikTok very much. From 2020-2022, at the height of the pandemic, I spent countless hours on TikTok, sometimes staying up until 5 a.m. This unhealthy habit and the addictive nature of TikTok’s algorithm led me away from the app, and now I consume short-form content on Instagram Reels.
When I first heard about the ban, I was shocked. I didn’t think the U.S. government would interfere with people’s lives to such an extent. However, I understand that protecting American data is an important aspect of national security.
That said, watching videos from the congressional hearings—like lawmakers asking TikTok representatives if the app connects to Wi-Fi—makes me question whether “national security” is truly the primary concern. To me, it feels more like an oversight, one I have no power to change.
I also recognize that young people consume short-form content in different ways, which made me curious about how others at 老司机传媒 feel about the ban.
“Yes, I use TikTok. I think data was a factor in the ban, but what social media doesn’t steal your data? I'm honestly not concerned about my data because the government knows everything about me. Facebook/Meta does the same thing, but they’re American-owned.”
—Kendall Cautivar (junior, digital communications)
“I think that TikTok has become the most popular social media platform and for that reason, has served as an amazing way to which has helped grow businesses, raise awareness of national and international topics, and virtually teach us about any and every topic imaginable. For that reason I think that the ban would be a backwards approach towards the advancement of our American people. Perhaps different methods could be used to offer a great impact, as TikTok has, but I think the ban is more of the government’s attempt at controlling the public. I understand their concern with China being able to keep data from American citizens as it is a Chinese app, and China-American relations have not been the best. However, based on articles and footage of conferences, it seems that our government carries themselves with a sense of ignorance and a strong want for keeping the US self sufficient and sort of secluded from the world. It's been brought up often that America should advance on its own without using other countries and, with that, cutting ties with nearby countries and countries we’ve conducted business with for the longest time, such as TikTok.”
—Anonymous Andrews student
Some are indifferent about TikTok’s shutdown, focusing instead on other platforms for short-form content. Meanwhile, others view the ban as a politically motivated move aimed at controlling the public rather than a genuine security measure.
As Jan. 19 approached, the TikTok ban continued to spark debates, particularly among college students. Regardless of individual opinions, one thing is clear: The ban will significantly impact how youth engage with short-form content in the future.
Even with such a small sample size, we can see a range of viewpoints on the ban. Some approach TikTok’s disappearance with indifference to where they consume their short-form content. Meanwhile, others viewed the ban as a politically motivated move aimed at controlling the public rather than a genuine security measure.
Update:
Recent developments indicate that negotiations between TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and U.S. regulators are ongoing. On the day of the ban, TikTok users were relieved to discover that the platform was back in operation. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending TikTok’s operation for an additional 75 days, providing time for further negotiations. In a press conference, Trump suggested that up to 50% of TikTok could be sold to U.S. companies as part of a potential joint venture. As part of this update, I asked some Andrews students their opinion on the repeal.
“I’m very happy that Tik Tok is back cause it’s an app that is a form of entertainment that has also led me to learn new things about subjects I’m interested in. While it does distract me from time to time I’ve been able to connect with others who have the same interests as me.”
—Robyn Victoriano (sophomore, psychology)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 老司机传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 老司机传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.