Tick-Tock for TikTok

The push to ban the social media app TikTok has been moving forward, as both chambers of Congress have successfully passed, “The National Security Supplemental Bill.” While the bill was passed to get foreign aid to US Allies; Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine— it also requires Bytedance (TikTok’s Chinese owner) to sell the platform to American owners or face a nationwide ban. These efforts are part of a long struggle, as security over users' privacy becomes a major concern for the American government. In 2020, the Trump Administration began trying to split TikTok from ByteDance by selling it to Microsoft. Then, the Biden administration continued these efforts by banning TikTok from government phones in 2023, despite his campaign utilizing TikTok’s platform as recently as February of 2024. Now, President Biden has signed the bill and enforced the TikTok Ban, which has started the timer for TikTok divestment in roughly 9 months to a whole year.

As government officials sign the bill, they hope to rein in fear that TikTok might influence people through targeted content— content that reinforces your opinions. Some of them say that TikTok has the choice to continue working if they choose to separate from ByteDance. Then, there are the views of other supporters of the bill, such as Damien’s Algebra Teacher: Mr. Cramer, who said, “They know exactly what you look at on TikTok.” This surveillance comes in many forms, such as “cookies,” which is common practice for most companies that keep user data. Cookies show you ads tailored to your interests based on what you interact with on the site. His main praise, along with cyber security experts, is that the bill will be a major step forward in controlling data that the Chinese government can access— while also making your safety and privacy a priority for our government. An interview from CBS News with Senator Mark Warner of Virginia has brought to light the aggressive response against a TikTok Ban from Chinese officials, which might show the usefulness of the app for the government.

However, TikTok and some of its users have protested, saying that there is no concrete evidence TikTok endangers its users' privacy and beliefs. As there is no presented proof that TikTok threatens users’ privacy— they worry that they will be restricted because of unjustified fear. Some students at Damien have also displayed dissatisfaction with the government's decision. Many of these students feel that TikTok is so much more than just an app— they view it as a creative outlet where creators and businesses can share their creativity and ideas, a place people can find inspiration and new ideas.