TikTok has been given more time after a short ban on Jan. 19.
President Donald Trump has officially given TikTok 75 days to either sell or be banned again. This order does not reverse the ban but it does give time for Byte-dance (the parent company) to choose.
Trump has told reporters that he is trying to find someone to do a 50-50 partner split with the United States for TikTok.
There are some people that are possible buyers such as Elon Musk, Mr. Beast, and Kevin O’ Leary.
Some students and staff say they like TikTok and don’t want it to be banned.
Legacy English Teacher, Mrs. Amy Allen, who has 14,000 followers on TikTok, says she thinks it can be a positive application for self-expression.
“I think it is a creative outlet for people who don’t feel as open in person to express themselves,” she said.
On Dec. 6, 2024, it was announced that TikTok will either have to sell or be banned from the United States.
In January of 2024, Homeland security had an ongoing TikTok investigation. They had suspicions of malign influences from the company. This means that suspicions of foreign malign influences/ tracking and hacking have been going on for a while now.
Wanderley Massafelli, a former quality analyst in Ireland for TikTok, explains what he thinks about TikTok danger.
“I think TikTok, as any other social media, could be dangerous for minors if parents, who are not really watching what their kids do, are seeing online,” Mr. Massafelli said. “And also when the platform allows certain kinds of content. So I don’t think TikTok is dangerous, but I think TikTok can be dangerous if it’s not used properly.”
Many people like the app but don’t have it.
Both Aellyn Menjivar, 12, Trailblazers, and Elodie Greene, 12, Trailblazers, said that they didn’t have TikTok.
Elodie said, “I like it cause it has a lot of stuff.”
Politics are involved too. Re-elected President Donald Trump used to want a TikTok ban. His opinion flipped to save TikTok during the election campaign.
Many people are currently frustrated and will be furious if TikTok is banned.
Mrs. Allen says, “I think it is freedom of speech.”
Elodie said, “It should not be banned because there would be a lot of sad children in the world.”
Mr. Massafelli said he didn’t think it should be banned.
“I think it should be controlled better for the countries, by the politicians,” he said.
Some think the opposite.
Aellyn Menjivar says, “Honestly I think it should be banned.”
Avanthika Rajasekaran, a seventh-grader on the Trailblazers team, says that she doesn’t like TikTok and wants it to be banned for good.
“It should be banned because it’s useless and it’s kind of like addicting,” she says.
To solve the problems, some students, teachers, and a former analyst have suggestions.
Aellyn says, “Ban all inappropriate content.”
Elodie says, “I think they should make a kids’ version.”
Mr. Massafelli says, “So I think they should talk to improve their moderation system like any other platform should also do.”
