BY CALEB TOBIN
A potential ban of the social media app TikTok has students talking about social media and national security issues.
The US House of Representatives recently voted to ban TikTok from app stores if the Chinese company ByteDance does not sell the app.
Helen Cotrupi, a junior, said she was astonished at the decision and doesn’t think a ban will work.
“That’s wild. I don’t think it is going to work. That’s just crazy,” Cotrupi said.
Cotrupi said she used TikTok a lot before deleting the app in February.
Other students said there might be valid reasons to be concerned about the app.
“I think there is maybe some reason to do it. I don’t think banning an app for national security reasons is an overreach,” said Gideon Daley, a junior.
Daley said he has the app but does not use it much. He uses it when friends send him links to videos on TikTok.
“I’m not someone who uses TikTok much, so it is hard for me to care,” said Jonathan Cook, a junior.
Cook said he believes the reasoning behind the potential ban is anti-China sentiment. He also said the app has led to an increase in right-wing beliefs.
Some said other social media apps should be looked at.
“Other social media apps should be looked into, not just TikTok,” said junior Benjamin Lipman.
Lipman said the content that TikTok shows viewers in different countries is a concern to him. He said the content Americans consume on TikTok is much different from what people in China and other countries see.
The legislation on whether TikTok will be banned from US app stores now heads to the Senate. President Biden has said that he will sign the bill if it is sent to his desk.
“If they pass it, I’ll sign it,” Biden said to reporters last week.
Comments