TikTok ban set for Sunday

Athena Tseng, Staff Reporter|September 18, 2020

From Musical.ly to TikTok, this social media app has been around for a long time. Starting Sunday, TikTok and WeChat will be banned and removed from all app stores.

The social media platform, TikTok, along with WeChat are set to be banned from all U.S. app stores on Sunday because of security concerns.

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“The only real change as of Sunday night will be [TikTok users] won’t have access to improved apps, updated apps, upgraded apps or maintenance,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a Fox Business article.

Many students and teenagers around the United States are disappointed because of the popularity of TikTok within their generation.

“I feel really sad about the ban because I’ve had this app on my phone for years since it’s Musical.ly days,” sophomore Jiya Surywanshi said. “I never deleted it and it’s been really cool getting to see how much it’s grown to such a big platform only for it to be taken away.”

Displeasure with the federal government’s action against TikTok isn’t confined to students.

“I’ve also been following a lot of other teachers on TikTok. And I’ve been learning a lot of stuff and so it’s almost like a professional learning community if you get into the right group,” social studies teacher Jeff Crowe said. “It’s also something I’ve been doing with my family and my kids and my co-workers, so it’s kind of a downer that they’re taking it away.”

The United States is denying updates and new downloads of TikTok because of security concerns the government has regarding the data of American citizens being stored and used in China.

“Today’s actions prove once again that President Trump will do everything in his power to guarantee our national security and protect Americans from the threats of the Chinese Communist Party,” Ross said in the Fox Business article. “At the President’s direction, we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data, while promoting our national values, democratic rules-based norms, and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.”

However, TikTok denies these claims and ensures that user data is protected in the United States. But if TikTok isn’t sold to a company based in America, it will be effectively shut down on Nov. 12.

“Our community of 100 million US users loves TikTok because it’s a home for entertainment, self-expression, and connection,” the company said in an official statement. “and we’re committed to protecting their privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform.”