As Tiktok approaches its final hours, it brings up plenty of emotions for its millions of American users. Recollections of the countless hours spent scrolling on the app and doing silly dances with the likes of the Hype House during quarantine when there was nothing else to do flood the minds. TikTok not only was what our elders would refer to as ‘brain rot’ but also an avenue for people to launch small businesses, give anyone their desired 60 seconds or more of fame, and for people to find a community based on mutual interests during periods of prolonged loneliness (like that of the pandemic). You’re probably wondering how we got here, and what’s going to happen.
Personally, I didn’t believe the TikTok ban was going to happen until the Supreme Court ruling because it felt like the boy who cried wolf. For the past four years, there have been ongoing debates on the Hill over whether or not to ban TikTok on the basis of national security concerns. The company is owned by Chinese media firm ByteDance, who also owns Tiktok’s sister app Lemon8, which could be subject to the same law. Last spring, Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, giving Tiktok until January 19th, 2025, to sell to a government-approved American buyer or face an embargo amongst its American users. In the meantime, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Xi Chew, alleged that the ruling was in violation of the First Amendment and took the case all the way to the Supreme Court. As SCOTUS’ decision loomed near, it sent American users into a frenzy. Many of them sought out alternative apps that could serve the same purpose. They found it in Rednote, another Chinese video-sharing app that boasts even more censorship. Dubbing themselves ‘Tiktok Refugees’, Rednote became one of the top downloaded apps on the App Store. And come mid-January, the Supreme Court ruled against Chew that the Tiktok ban was not a violation of free speech, which led to the app going dark. Despite this definitive decision by SCOTUS, Donald Trump gave Tiktok a 75-day extension to find a buyer, which prompted TikTok to become accessible to the general public once more. The reception has been mixed.
Many are rejoicing the app’s return, albeit temporary, while the app’s college-aged and twenty-something demographic also voice concerns about Trump having an ulterior motive. One sophomore at UMass Amherst claimed the action was ironic given that Trump was the initial driving force behind a TikTok ban, and it could be a warning sign of the app possibly becoming a venue for MAGA propaganda to flourish. Others are happy Tiktok is back in the interim, while also apprehensive that the president’s change of heart is indicative of his trying to win over Gen Z, who have been largely outspoken against him. The app’s shutdown lasted maybe 12 hours, long enough for some to not even realize it was ever gone. While it is available for American users, Tiktok is still off the app store, meaning that anyone who deleted the app in the last week is unable to redownload it.
On the eve of the TikTok ban, I wondered how much my screen time could go down without it. I truly wrapped my head around Tiktok’s addictive nature, which I was cognizant of and that’s the reason I have time limits on my social media. Tiktok’s departure also comes at the moment when the days of the pandemic are far in our rearview mirror; it’s been back to the normal we all dreamed of. However, our collective senses of time remain warped, as though time stopped on March 13th, 2020. After all, Tiktok gained its most traction when we were all in that deep isolation mode and needed that escape. It’s been almost five years since then. Will we still have that app that saw us through a time as trying as the pandemic? For all its perks, Tiktok has its fatal flaws. The studies that showcase its capacity to shorten attention spans via the dependency on short-form content, aka brain rot, the exploitation of minors, and the algorithm’s negative impacts on mental health make the prospect of a TikTok ban not seem so bad. Regardless, as we venture into another Trump presidency, the burning question amongst all Americans is simply what comes next?
About Evelyn Young
Evelyn is a senior from the Chicago area majoring in Digital Media Practices and Jewish Studies with a minor in French. This past summer, she studied creative writing in Paris. Evelyn has held a variety of positions within the Crescent and is incredibly excited to begin her role as Senior Editor. After graduating from Tulane, she hopes to move to Los Angeles to pursue her film career.
Evelyn is a senior from the Chicago area majoring in Digital Media Practices and Jewish Studies with a minor in French. This past summer, she studied creative writing in Paris. Evelyn has held a variety of positions within the Crescent and is incredibly excited to begin her role as Senior Editor. After graduating from Tulane, she hopes to move to Los Angeles to pursue her film career.
