TikTok, the popular social media platform, known for its short-form videos, faced a significant upheaval in the United States. On January 18, 2025, the app ceased operations nationwide, displaying a message to users: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning Tiktok has been enacted in the U.S.”
This shutdown followed a Supreme Court decision upholding a federal ban on TikTok due to national security concerns. The ruling concluded a prolonged legal battle between the Department of Justice and TikTok, with the court siding with the government’s stance on potential data security risks associated with the app’s Chinese ownership.
The push for the ban has drawn a mixed response. Supporters argue that protecting Americans’ user data is critical and cite the importance of national security. However, critics have countered that the ban may overstep government authority and threaten freedom of expression for the millions of Americans who use the app daily. TikTok, for its part, has consistently denied any improper use of user data and even offered to increase transparency measures in response to concerns.
In a recent U.S. Senate hearing, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced intense questioning regarding the platform’s connections to the Chinese government. Senator Tom Cotton pressed Chew on potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party, to which Chew responded, “I’m Singaporean.”
Chew emphasized that TikTok operates independently and is not influenced by any government, including China’s. He reiterated that TikTok is committed to user safety and data security, aiming to dispel concerns about potential foreign interference.
The U.S. government’s move to ban TikTok has sparked debates about its underlying motivations. Critics argue that the ban may be driven more by political considerations than genuine concerns over data privacy.
Furthermore, some point out that if data privacy were the primary concern, similar actions might have been taken against U.S.-based companies like Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook), which have faced significant penalties for data privacy violations. For instance, Meta was fined €251 million ($263 million) by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission for a 2018 data breach that exposed information from approximately 29 million Facebook accounts. Additionally, Meta was also hit with a record €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) fine by European Union regulators for violating EU privacy laws. These instances highlight a perceived inconsistency in the enforcement of data privacy concerns, leading to arguments that the TikTok ban may be influenced by factors beyond user data and protection.
The U.S. government’s primary concern with TikTok is its connection to China and the potential for data to be accessed by the Chinese government. Kennedy Brown, a freshman at OHS disagrees with the notion that TikTok is a bigger threat than other platforms like Meta. Brown expressed skepticism about the government’s motives. “I think they’re doing that because he’s (referencing Mark Zuckerberg) like probably privileged and I see that Mark kinda hangs out with Elon Musk, who also has connections to Donald Trump, so let’s clock that tea. We need to figure that out because that’s actually kinda insane if you ask me.”
Jacob Dut, a sophomore at OHS, however, acknowledges the data concerns but still finds it hard to compare TikTok to its competitors. “Nah, it’s not really a threat to me. I mean I don’t know about these government thinkin’ it is. I mean it’s a great TikTok app, y’know?” He pointed out.
(Amal Mohamed)
Some argue that a ban on TikTok could be seen as a violation of free speech. Brown disagrees with that idea. “Uhm, I don’t think it really violates free speech. You can say whatever you want still, you can post whatever you want on any other social media app. It’s just that TikTok was like the “best” one. It was easy access and not as judgemental like the other apps are.”
For Brown, the TikTok ban would impact her social media habits. “I found so many good things on TikTok, I had recipes, I had like tutorials for like every single thing and now I feel like my life is empty. Now I feel like my soul has been taken and snatched out of my body and I just feel like I have no outlet like I have nowhere to really express myself.”
Dut’s response was more pragmatic. “I probably would not be on my phone as much honestly.”
The debate over the potential TikTok ban is far from over, it’s clear that there are passionate opinions from both sides. While some view the ban as a necessary step to protect national security and data privacy, others see it as a politically motivated action that could set a troubling precedent. Whether or not the U.S. will take further action remains uncertain, but one thing for sure–TikTok has sparked a larger conversation about privacy, freedom of speech, and the power of social media. As students and young people who have grown up with these platforms, Brown and Dut insights remind us that the consequences of such a ban extend far beyond TikTok itself. It touches on our daily online habits, freedom of expression and the future of digital spaces.
