The U.S. Battle with TikTok

Across the nation and even the world, TikTok has made its mark. TikTok, a popular social media platform based in China allows users to post short-form video content surrounding various topics; dancing, comedy, cooking, education and so much more.

Though TikTok is no doubt one of the most prevalent social media apps currently out in the market, it has raised concerns worldwide. India, which had produced the highest number of the app’s downloads, banned TikTok earlier this summer. Multiple other countries, including the United States, also look to ban the app. The reason? Data security. Country leaders raised concerns about data being exposed to China, a country that the U.S. has continued to oppose in terms of China’s current political system, communism.

On August 6th, President Trump had issued an executive order granting TikTok 45 days to be sold from Chinese company ByteDance Inc. to an American company before it gets banned. The administration cited information regarding the possibility of the tracking of Federal employees for the use of blackmail or other malicious reasons.

It is understandable why the United States is in opposition to the information of their citizens being exposed to China, however, there are still many other implications regarding the ban that can be explored. Content on TikTok in the U.S. aside from its predictable fun content contains considerable amounts of political engagement from both sides of the political spectrum.

In June, a horde of left-leaning TikTokers conspired to reserve tickets at President Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the midst of the pandemic. Expecting a grand audience of at least 19,000 attendees, only 6,200 attendees were counted. Could the outcome of this rally also be a factor of the ban on TikTok by President Trump?

Maui High School is not shy of its love for TikTok. Many Sabers look to the app as a platform to view favorable content and express themselves. Of these Sabers, Kyra Ong, with over 71,000 followers on TikTok, shares her stance on the potential ban on TikTok. Kyra thinks that the tech companies of the U.S. should follow through and save TikTok from the action of the current administration in order to maintain the positive effect that the app has on many lives in this generation. “I think that the possible ban on Tiktok should not pass. I go on TikTok to distract my mind from the stress of anything going on in my life. I know for many, as well as myself, that this app has had way more of a positive effect than negative effect on our lives.”

Kyra cites the diversity in content as the force that grants TikTok users enjoyment. “I feel that so many people enjoy TikTok because it is an app that is so diverse. The app is designed to give you the entertainment you like. Although many people out there think that TikTok is just these silly dances, it is honestly way more than that. The wide range of videos you can find this app is endless.”

We may never know the true motive behind the proposed ban on TikTok, but TikTokers across the country are holding their breath as the U.S. seeks an American buyer for the app. Will the days of “renegading” and endless scrolling soon reach their end? We will see if the TikTok market is hot enough to entice a domestic buyer by the indicated deadline of September 15th.