Tiktok to be regulated or sold in the United States

By: Annie McMickin and Makayla Young 

Dances, story times, and “get- ready-with-me” videos have become popular with the increasing use of the social media site TikTok. 

TikTok was created in September 2016 and has been under attack for the past few years. Congress has recently attempted to regulate the app due to fears that it is a threat to national security, and that ByteDance, the company based in China that owns TikTok, may be spying on Americans or filtering content. Because of these fears, a bill threatening a ban has been signed by President Joe Biden. Texas Representative Michael McCaul stated before the bill was passed that the app “is used to exploit Americans’ personal information,” according to AP News. 

The bill has gone through a long process to get to where it is. On Apr. 20, the House of Representatives approved the bill, then on Apr. 22, the Senate approved it. Finally, on Apr. 23, Biden took the final step by approving the restriction, officially making it a law. 

Contrary to popular belief, the supposed “ban” will not erase TikTok immediately, and America is not the first country to participate in a TikTok regulation. 

India, Britain, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and other countries all have restricted the app in some way, according to CNN. The bill states that unless ByteDance sells its American shares of TikTok to a governmentally approved company, TikTok will be banned in the United States. If ByteDance cooperates and sells its American shares of the app, TikTok will remain. The company currently has until Jan. 19, 2025 to sell the app, but the CEO, Shou Zi Chew, intends to “keep fighting” to leave TikTok as it is. Starting mid-January of 2025, users can expect to be cut off if the app does not sell.

On Apr. 24, ByteDance said that it was “internally exploring scenarios” and not jumping to sell its shares, according to Yahoo News. 

Currently, TikTok is a popular way for creators and small business owners to make a living and gain more customers. The ban could affect many people who are attempting to grow a successful business, such as sophomore Emiliano Valencia, a barber who works in Marin. He uses social media platforms such as TikTok to bring clients in. 

“I can post content of my work, and if it gets banned, then it would affect me by making me lose clientele,” Valencia said. 

Teachers, such as AP European History and AVID teacher, Robert Watson, also have something to say about the upcoming ban. 

“More than whether I think the ban is a good idea, I think it would be much better if people recognized the amount of their lives that are consumed by social media and made a conscious decision to change their behavior in accordance to that which they say they value,” Watson said. “I would also urge people to be more mindful of the data they share and who they share it with. It is also difficult to identify the ways we can be manipulated by social media.” 

Many people are upset with the ban for taking away a source of their entertainment. 

“Social media can be a good thing, depending on how you utilize it,” sophomore Kiana Namiranian said. “I feel like [TikTok] is a way I can have fun, like by making dance videos with my friends. I also love to watch the videos, and [my life] would be boring without TikTok.” 

Some people, including sophomore Elise Chiu, think the government could be worrying about other issues rather than banning TikTok. 

“There are so many issues in our country that need attention and help. TikTok should not be a concern,” Chiu said. “[TikTok] has grown so many small businesses, and many people live by making money with TikTok. It has improved so many lives as well. Making TikTok videos is people’s job, they depend on it. The government should not be taking away people’s jobs.”