Students react to impending TikTok ban
3 min read
When the ban occurred, users received a pop-up as they were scrolling the app. | Abbey Magnet, The Weekly Ringer
by WILL ROBINSON AND EMMA KINGKEO
Staff Writer and News Editor
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, TikTok went offline hours before a nationwide ban was slated to take place. Users were unable to access the app or website for nearly 12 hours, which left some students reeling.
“Even though it’s just an app it did feel like a loss because it’s something I can bond over with friends and it was just gone so fast and suddenly, before midnight might I add,” said sophomore psychology major Alexis Sawchuk.
For some, scrolling through the popular social media app became part of their daily routines. Students like Mia Mcdermott, a sophomore marketing major, said she turned to other platforms to satisfy her nightly scroll.
“When I went to bed I was like, ‘What do I do?’ So I went to YouTube Shorts,” she said. “I was on YouTube Shorts for like an hour, and then I just gave up and went to bed.”
Although some students were phased by TikTok’s temporary offline status, others saw it as a positive measure given the privacy concerns associated with the app.
“I think a potential positive of it is you may stand a better chance at protecting people’s privacy and data—and maybe you’ll get the student population off their phones,” said Zachary Wolford, a sophomore elementary education major who does not have TikTok.
TikTok has been subject to scrutiny from American politicians since 2020 when President Donald Trump first floated the idea of banning the app because of its relation to the Chinese government. Citing national security concerns, both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives voted in March 2024 to ban the app if it were not sold to an American company in 180 days. Similar concerns about the app’s algorithm and impact on mental health persuaded members of Congress to pass the bill on a bipartisan 352-65 vote.
“I was in shock that it was actually getting banned because there’s been talk about it being banned for years now, but never action,” said Sawchuk.
Olivia Rombeleti, a junior biomedical science major, who does not have TikTok, says that she does not share Congress’ privacy concerns because so much personal information is already accessible by the nature of the digital age.
“I do agree data privacy is important to me, but at the same time I also understand that if someone wants to figure out my data—like where I live—they can without too much effort,” she said. “Everything is online. If someone is really dedicated to finding it, they will.”
Rather than the national security aspect, many students instead say that their concerns stem from the app’s impact on mental health.
“I do believe a lot of social media apps in general have played a role in hurting peoples’ mental health, social skills, overall confidence and self-image,” said senior international business major Will Thompson. “I could see [the ban] having a positive effect on students—just taking away one more distraction and maybe even an addiction for some people.”
Some students see the ban as an infringement on self-expression and an attempt by the U.S. government to silence young voices online.
“Shutting it down felt like physically silencing so many people who were choosing to use their platform to amplify people’s voices,” said Laila Acquavella, a junior conservation biology major. “Especially with the current political landscape, blocking access to platforms that allowed U.S. citizens to have their voices heard means more now than anyone could have predicted.”
Shortly following his inauguration ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol, President Trump signed an executive order to extend the sell-or-ban law by 90 days. While American users currently have restored access to TikTok, the future of the app remains uncertain.
Grace Wagner contributed to reporting for this article.
