BY DAYAMI VILORIA
TikTok’s time may have run out. The influential social media platform, TikTok faced many controversies over the last few years, but this time it has made its way to the courts and now faces a possible ban.
Since TikTok’s inception, it has created a beneficial platform for its users. “TikTok can bring people together through its communities and easily shareable content,” said Micheal Solano.
Even with TikTok’s benefits, it’s had issues long before the potential ban came up. “TikTok decreased so many people’s attention spans and can expose you to really harmful topics and people if you’re not careful,” said Charlotte Hankenson.
The public and U.S. Lawmakers fear that the company that owns TikTok, Byte Dance poses a threat to national security. They believe Byte Dance could access U.S. users’ information through the platform.
The Chinese government could use TikTok’s content and recommendations to manipulate American users. “I think that what the Chinese government is capable of is definitely concerning because it could negatively impact Americans and could affect our nation’s privacy,” said Esther Bedel.
Due to the national security threats, the bill has now passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill passed by the House said the company that owns TikTok, Byte Dance, would have to sell their platform to an American corporation in under six months or face banishment off all U.S. app stores.
TikTok gives people an opportunity to speak their opinions and share them with the world. Without TikTok, it can limit people’s abilities to speak their mind. “I think banning the platform would take away people’s freedom of speech and it could silence a lot of people,” said Camille Johnson.
The Senate’s vote ended with 79 agreeing and 18 opposing. The Senate revised the bill and gave Byte Dance a nine-month extension. If a sale is in progress, they could also rant a 3-month extension.
If Byte Dance doesn’t get sold or if they refuse to sell the platform within the time given, the bill will go to the President of the United States’s desk where he will decide whether to veto it or not.
Posted on 6/12/24
Photos by Dayami Viloria
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