Disconnected: School Without Walls Students React to the (Fleeting) TikTok Ban

Imagine waking up one morning to find one of the world’s most popular social media apps banned in the United States. On Jan. 18, this became a reality for many Americans, Walls students included, as TikTok was briefly shut down due to concerns over data security and its ties to the Chinese government. The ban was quickly lifted in large part due to the then incoming Trump administration's negotiations with TikTok. 

The ban on TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been debated for years. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law allowing the federal government to ban foreign-controlled apps deemed a national security risk. However, the ban lasted only about 12 hours before TikTok was restored, leaving users confused and frustrated about its future.

Since its rise in 2019, TikTok has become a cornerstone of teen culture in the U.S., and its brief removal highlighted how integral it is to daily life. “Opening the app was like muscle memory,” said Sam Solomon (‘27). Campbell Tiller (‘26) echoed this sentiment: “It is my most used social media, so I was really sad to have it gone.”

Even though the ban was fleeting, it was long enough to cause upset for some students who were left scrambling as they prepared for the app to go dark. Dominique Isaac (‘26), explained, “the app actually went offline an hour early which left me in a hard spot while trying to download my drafts.”  

Unlike Isaac, others were unsure of whether the ban would ever come. Sophomore Alex Gonzalez-Shalla (’27) shared his confusion: “I have seen a lot of mixed information in the media regarding the ban, and I wasn’t exactly sure who to trust.” Similarly, Tiller (’26) expressed surprise: “I didn’t really expect it to actually get banned and stop working, so when it did, I was shocked.”

Despite the concerns that prompted the ban, many teens remain unconcerned about data security risks. Sophomore Sam Solomon (’27) said he was “not at all” worried about TikTok’s potential misuse of personal data. Gonzalez-Shalla added, “I don’t really care what they would do with my data; they couldn’t even do much.” 

On the flip side, Shaun Johnson (‘26) had some concerns with the security of the app, particularly as it pertains to TikTok Shop, an in-app feature that allows users to buy and sell products. Johnson explained, “With the introduction of TikTok Shop, my [security] concerns grew deeper, because the interface of the shop looked very similar to the Chinese company…Temu. It made me think harder about what the data that I send while using TikTok is used for, if not only for curating a for you page.” Johnson noted that as a result of his own concerns, he makes sure to only use TikTok for entertainment and to avoid purchasing anything from TikTok Shop. 

Many students raised alarm bells over the in-app message which came just before President Trump’s inauguration, announcing that TikTok would once again become available to American users. The message said: “Thank you for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” 

Isaac found the message concerning, explaining that, “the initial message that popped up gave thanks to someone who in all honesty didn’t deserve a thank you.” Sophie Fetsch (‘26) agreed. “The message was so creepy it gave ‘all hail the king’ vibes. It was like they wanted us to believe Trump was the reason it was coming back when realistically he made it go away in the first place,” she said, referring to the fact that Trump introduced the idea for a TikTok ban during his first administration. Fetsch concluded that “it was a political stunt.” 

The future of TikTok remains uncertain. While some speculate that ByteDance may sell its U.S. operations to comply with federal regulations, others worry about how such changes could reshape the platform. Tiller predicted that TikTok might become “a more controlled app” or even take on a more obvious political lean after thanking former President Trump for restoring access.

For now, TikTok’s status in the U.S. is precarious as lawmakers and company officials continue negotiations. What is clear is that any resolution will likely bring significant changes to one of America’s favorite apps.