TikTok: it’s one of the world’s most popular social media apps, but that popularity doesn’t mean it is free from controversy. Last April, former president Joe Biden signed legislation requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell to a US-based company within a year, or shut down. On January 17th, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the ban and the app went dark on the 18th, disappearing from both Google and Apple’s app stores.
But in a strange turn of events, TikTok didn’t stay dark. In fact, it came back. This is primarily due to two things: former president Biden shifting enforcement of the TikTok ban over to the Trump administration, and Trump planning to grant ByteDance a 90-day extension to sell the app before it is completely banned. While the whole situation is a captivating tale of national security threats, and First Amendment rights and violations, how is the TikTok ban (or the threat of a ban) affecting the people who use the app?
In the US, TikTok has 170 million users, and according to a 2024 Pew Research study, 59% of users are between the ages of 18-29. Despite TikTok’s massive popularity and cultural relevance, it’s still social media which constant overuse of can have negative effects on mental health: increased anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and low self-esteem are just a few. A summer 2024 study by the Pew Research Center reported that 28% of people surveyed opposed the US government banning TikTok, and 32% supported it. There are a variety of views even among ETSU students.
“I am for the TikTok ban. This is not something I want to happen, but this is something that needs to happen,” sophomore Evie Leonard said. “TikTok highlights the positive and eventful aspects of people’s lives, which lead people to forget about the mundane… People need to constantly be on their phones because they refuse to sit with their own thoughts.”
Graduate student Taylor France said that she was feeling frustrated on the matter, stating “There’s far more pressing issues in our country right now than a social media app’s existence… TikTok has connected people across the globe, provided a source of income for individuals, and has just become a place where users can take a break from their daily routine.” No matter your opinion on TikTok or the ban, it’s important to consider all perspectives on the matter, and how social media plays a role in your life and mental health.
