So much is happening in the world right now, so some may wonder why the biggest worry of Congress seems to be to ban TikTok.
What is the ban for? Why do they want to ban it, and Who is it that is trying to ban it?
Congress voted to ban tik tok for many reasons, but their top reason is they believe that the Chinese government can see things that are supposed to be private. For example, sensitive data like information of the user’s exact location. According to The new york times “Why Is TikTok Facing a US Ban” They also believe that “it’s an app the Chinese government handles that captures and shares misleading and incorrect information.”- Sapna Maheshwari
When are the plans to ban Tiktok?
The supreme court was planning to ban tik tok january 19th, this was the date they are wanting to do it because in April president biden legislation that law giving the not banning tik tok till January 19th, and when TikTok tried to go against the banning, they lost their first legal effort to stop the ban on december 6th. Although they lost the battle against the banning, president Donald J Trump is still on the line to help not ban tiktok, and that’s what he did. Tiktok ended up getting banned on January 18 at 8pm. It was banned for 12 hours and then it was quickly unbanned due to President Trump giving a 90 day extension.
Where will the ban take place?
This ban would take place over the entire U.S. The U.S app companies that have a hold of tik tok will no longer be able to have them for others to download unless they are not a U.S platform.
Why does this matter?
People believe that the Tiktok ban matters because it feels to people a way of going against the First Amendment, taking away freedom of speech to 170 million people. Tiktok is a way to communicate with so many different people all over the world and help people learn so much and the government wants to take that all away… A junior, Ellie Wytulka says “I have learned much from Tik Tok. Though it might not always be accurate, it informs me of what is going on in the world and encourages me to do my research.”
Updates on the tiktok ban.

The tiktok ban is changing everyday, January 14 the new news is that TikTok’s ban is trying to be pushed 270 days but it is not confirmed yet. The only confirmed news is a push back from the ban on January 19th for 36 hours. They are doing this because they want to wait to hear if president trump is in. The most recent news is on the TikTok ban as it was banned on January 18 at 8pm for 12 hours. According to Fox News “TikTok Ban Upheld By Supreme Court”’ “to President-elect Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay enforcement of TikTok’s impending ban”- Sylvia Mpofu
Like many others that I have talked to about the TikTok ban, almost everyone is not happy about it. Including an FMHS parents, Justin Nordine.
Justin Nordine states that “I think the tik tok ban is ridiculous. I think tik tok has become a great first hand place of information for the public to easily access. People use it for so many reasons and it has helped so many people so why take that away?’
How has TikTok affected your business?
“It also has done many positive things to people’s small businesses and big businesses including mine. Tiktok has given me another platform to show people my work and potentially get new clients because my videos pop up on peoples for you page all around the world which is not something any other platform could do. So having it taken away would be a loss of big opportunities to my business and many others,” Nordine said.
In conclusion, it will be sad once tik tok officially gets banned.
FMHS parent Justin Nordine says “it helps people laugh, grow, learn, and connect.” But maybe we will all have to get used to watching instagram reels now.