Over the years, TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon for people all around the world; nonetheless, after a Supreme Court decision on Jan. 17, 2025, TikTok was intended to soon come to an end. TikTok was first introduced to the public in September 2016, yet after numerous years it has become a domineering social media platform. Viewers can scroll for hours on end to discover new fashion trends, songs, dances, foods and other informative videos. TikTok evidently has its uses, offering a tool for people to find beneficial information, however, its effects on mental health or privacy issues are complicated concerns.
TikTok’s immense popularity is undeniable, from every country and state to every neighborhood and household. Its sheer popularity and helpful content has captivated a global audience which is also offering significant amounts of financial opportunities. Brands like Lululemon, Adidas or even small businesses use influencers that are on TikTok to boost their products by sending them free or discounted merchandise. Fans, being easily influenced by popular creators, buy these products. In the end, both the company and the influencer earn money.
This social media platform was banned in the United States on Jan. 18, 2025 due to security issues and data privacy, which left viewers in uncertainty knowing that their favorite app could be shutting down forever. However, on the morning of Jan. 19, 2025, the ban was revoked, and TikTok was once again available for any users still with the app.
This situation created a stir on TikTok, with the multitude of creators and users who depend on the app for information and entertainment. There have been a variety of rumors and false information spreading in the weeks following the announcement, claiming different dates for the ban, most of which were not accurate. In the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court’s decision to ban the platform, TikTok’s return and the positive and negative aspects of the app have been in question.
Students of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) hold a variety of perspectives on the fate of TikTok. On one end of the spectrum, students feel as thought the popular social media platform should stay. Maya Adams ‘28 explained, “TikTok is the best platform of entertainment, mostly because of its humor, and there are videos that are really helpful like makeup videos or cooking videos.”
When browsing Tiktok, a viewer has the choice to choose between harmful and helpful content, allowing the app to be very controversial in the topic of whether it is “good” or “bad.” However, people engaging with the app have the opportunity to watch content that is not only entertaining, but also educational. Tutorials are prevalent within the app’s algorithm, exemplified by video tutorials like baking, gardening, cooking, juggling, drawing, completing math equations and so forth.
Keera Wallace ‘26 reaffirms this, stating, “Tiktok isn’t the most helpful to get in depth information, but it is very good for searching up something super quickly.”
At the opposite end of this controversy, many believe that TikTok should be permanently banned. Henry Escobar ‘27 adds to this point, expressing, “TikTok can affect people’s mental health by cyberbullying or when influencers make people think they should do something unhealthy or immoral just to be cool. A lot of peer pressure is on TikTok.”
Trends are typically lighthearted, whether they are intricate dances, baked feta pastas or collecting popular stuffed animals; however, creators have the power to influence viewers who are often very young and impressionable. Seeing influencers who so often rely on editing, posing and filters have set unrealistic standards for those watching, creating an influx of mental health issues when viewers aren’t able to meet such expectations.
In “Women who spend time on TikTook feel less satisfied with their bodies, studies suggest”, by NBC News, Kalhan Rosenblatt explains, “One of the saddest realities to me is that the blunt nature of the algorithm is such that searching for body positivity content may result in users being exposed to pro-anorexia content.” This is just one example of how TikTok’ssearch engine can unfortunately harm, rather than help.
Finn Alleman ‘26 offers another perspective as to why TikTok should remain: “Tiktok is getting banned due to all the information that the app collects on you, but given that logic they should ban all the other socials that do the same.” Other social maps like Instagram, X or Youtube are used for educational purposes as well as entertainment, yet it can not always be guaranteed that either the information collected or videos posted are safe in any of these platforms.
In the end, the ban of TikTok brings to attention an array of positive and negative aspects, depending on who you ask. Even so, this social media platform has become a significant part of people’s lives, offering a diverse range of content that is curated for various interests and communities. Although this app can have some negative effects including privacy issues and misleading content, a ban could remove a platform that fosters creativity and information on what’s going on in the world. Whether this information is true or not, the social media platform still retains 1.6 billion users per month, a staggering amount of viewers that hang in uncertainty along with the fate of TikTok.
