TikTok Ban:

Jasline Valdez

As we all know by now, TikTok’s deadline for a potential ban was extended for an extra 75 days. The government is still waiting to see if TikTok will be sold to another company, but for now, we just gotta wait. The situation has caused a lot of mixed feelings, and the wait for a final decision is causing some concern among users and content creators alike.

The government has pushed back the deadline mainly because of security concerns. The government worries about TikTok’s connection to China and how the app might handle user data. Giovanni K. puts it this way: “I think the public opinion only plays a minor role in discussions about the TikTok ban. This is because the government most likely isn’t going to listen to what people think on the TikTok ban since most people don’t understand how important national security is.”

For TikTok users, this delay might not feel like much of a win. Some are frustrated, and others are anxious about the future of the platform. Brody S. said, “It might cause outcry for an actual unbanning or ban to take place, extending it won’t help any cause.” As the deadline drags on, some users are beginning to wonder if this is just a way to lead everyone on without a final decision.

Content creators, in particular, are worried about what this delay means for their work. Many rely on TikTok for income, and if the ban does happen, it could leave them scrambling to find other ways to make money. Brody S. added, “Many that use TikTok as a job, for content creation or for small businesses will suffer, losing their source of income and could have trouble paying rent and bills.”

Giovanni K. echoed that statement, saying, “The main consequences I can think of are content creators losing their way of making money and people losing their main form of entertainment.”

If TikTok does get banned, many people will likely turn to other platforms. The most popular alternatives seem to be Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and Reddit. Brody S. suggested “Instagram” as the main replacement, while Tessa S. mentioned “Instagram, Like, Reddit, Facebook, possibly.” Giovanni K. also pointed out that “YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels” could gather TikTok’s audience.

The delay is also making people rethink how reliable content creation is as a full-time job. Brody S. said, “I think this will influence many to turn away from content creation for work as they won’t know if it’s a truly reliable source of income.” However, Tessa S. didn’t think it would have that much of an impact, stating, “It really won’t in my opinion. It’s just deleting an app the government has been saying to ban for now five years.”

Looking back at TikTok’s first ban, many people aren’t too concerned. Giovanni K. said, “I think TikTok’s first ban wasn’t that big of a deal. It definitely had people in shock but it didn’t cause too much distress among the people around me.” Brody S. agreed, adding, “I feel like TikTok’s first ban was kind of pointless. I think it might’ve affected people’s outlook on this new ban.”

If the ban does eventually happen, users will probably voice their opinions across social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. Giovanni K. said, “I think users will voice their opinions on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, this is because these are the 3 main places people can communicate on besides TikTok.” Brody S. also pointed out that “there will be a lot of outcry,” especially since former President Trump initially promised to unban the app but later reversed that statement.

For now, TikTok remains in the spotlight, but the clock is ticking. Whether or not the app will be banned is still uncertain, but the delay gives everyone some time to wait and see what happens next.