For the past few weeks controversy over the TikTok ban has been all over the media. While many teenagers believe the ban to be a curse, some feel that the ban could be helpful, especially for teenagers who are consumed by the app’s addicting For You Page. This article will dive into the positives and negatives of the ban and how Middletown High School North’s students were affected.
Despite lasting less than a day, the ban of TikTok threw American users into a frenzy. This ban also affected those who were not actually banned. New trends surfaced from foreign users, discussing the absence of American users and how they could already tell the difference within the platform. The ban received serious backlash from American users for a multitude of reasons.
For the students of Middletown High School North specifically, many felt as though a part of their childhood was being taken away from them. Many students have had TikTok installed for almost a decade and Musically for years before that. Additionally, TikTok served as income for some of our senior students, as the promotion of items on TikTok shop generated an influx of money and followers.
One of the largest grievances with the TikTok ban was a loss of shared culture. Many memes, slang, and trends originated on TikTok, providing people with specific niches that made them feel welcome. TikTok is a community in which people can find interests and share them. A loss of a community this large is tremendous, as demonstrated by the immense backlash that the one-day ban caused.
While TikTok is liked among most students at Middletown High School North, many would agree that the app can be a hindrance on productivity. Studies with the National Institute of Health demonstrate that screen time related to TikTok is increasing at an exponential rate. As screen time increases, students’ ability to focus and handle school work decreases. Additionally, this community formed on TikTok is stimulated through a carefully articulated algorithm, designed to keep users hooked. By creating an online community, users are pulled away from real life connections, making life without TikTok difficult and incomprehensible.
The true consequences of a TikTok ban will never be known, as a one day hiatus does not provide sufficient evidence. Yet, from the ban’s reaction it can be determined that the ban is neither a blessing nor a curse. TikTok is an extensive community that facilitates social interaction and economic growth, however, when left unchecked TikTok can hinder life experiences and productivity, thus demonstrating that TikTok is a potentially positive platform as long as it remains as an app, not a vital part of a person’s existence.
