On Jan. 19, 2025, a TikTok ban in the U.S. is scheduled to begin, and some people have some strong opinions about it.
On Dec. 6, 2024, it was announced that TikTok will either have to sell or be banned from the United States.
Some students and staff say they like Tik Tok and don’t want it to be banned.
Legacy English Teacher, Mrs. Amy Allen, who has 14,000 followers on Tik Tok, 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.
In January of 2024, Homeland security had an ongoing Tik Tok 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 has 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.”
To solve such 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.”
