Students are talking about and making plans for how to deal with the TikTok ban that’s supposed to start on Jan 19 and will mean that people will no longer be able to download or update the TikTop app in the United States. Even though most students probably won’t be impacted right away because they already have TikTok, if the ban stays in effect, eventually TikTok will be over. And there are rumors that the app might “go dark” for everyone on Sunday.
“I am really sad,” said senior Aliza Husain. “It was my life. I am going to protest.”
According to the Pew Research Center, 63% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 use TikTok. Many students spend hours on it daily.
“I use TikTok 25% of the day,” said senior Kevin Chen.
Spending a lot of time on TikTok, like Chen does, is not unusual. Junior Aishah Hanisdeen, spends about four hours a day on TikTok and finds that it’s easy to just keep scrolling. She described it like “an addiction,” where she doesn’t do her homework and just “sit[s] there on TikTok, scrolling.”
Some teachers also see it as a problem for students.
“TikTok is another distraction,” said Arge Panas, who teaches art. “I think it impacts students in a negative way because they look at these things on social media and they think their lives should somewhat be like these, I’ll call them – performers,” she said.
Josly Cooper, a freshman, agrees that it can be a distraction and it leads her to “procrastinating and being less productive.” But, she’s still not happy about the ban.
“It (a ban) would affect me a lot because I spend a lot of my day on TikTok,” said Cooper. “It’s a source of information, entertainment, and community. It’s a lot in one app,” she said.
Many students are already searching for alternatives to fill in the time that TikTok takes up. Some, like Husain and Hanisdeen, will be using the RedNote app instead of TikTok after it’s banned. RedNote is another social media app owned by a Chinese company and has seen a huge number of people download the app this week.
But RedNote isn’t the only option, sophomore Julia Jusi thinks that she’ll probably use Instagram more. And Chen sees how different apps can take the place of TikTok.
“I am probably going to watch Instagram, Reels and maybe try YouTube,” said Chen.
Some students think they may also look for “real world” things to do instead of TikTok.
“I’ll probably find another app or maybe give it a rest and focus on other things,” said Cooper., who refers to herself as a social media addict. “I think it’ll be really beneficial for me and let me learn new stuff, experience new things, and actually enjoy the real world.”
Cooper isn’t the only one who may spend less time on social media. Husain, in addition to using RedNote, also plans “to go outside and explore the world.”
A surprising number of students aren’t that concerned about the TikTok ban.
“I don’t really care as much and don’t think it’ll affect me the same way it might others,” said Jusi.
Freshman Nada Farfar thinks TikTok wastes a lot of her time and doesn’t “really care as much” as other people that it will be banned. And Shifa Khundmiri, a junior will be “happy when it’s banned.”
“I don’t really care about it,” said Khundmiri. “Scrolling too much isn’t something good and I don’t use TikTok.”
Sophomore Charlotte Reyes, who goes on TikTok when she’s bored because “there are a lot of funny videos and cool things on it,” isn’t “looking forward” to the ban but is only “a little bit upset” about it.
“I’ll live,” said Reyes. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
