By Czarina Santos, Writer | January 24, 2025
A post-it note with doom scroll checked off next to a phone unable to use Tiktok. Photo courtesy of Czarina Santos (author).
If you’re familiar with the term “Doom Scrolling” and have ever referred to yourself or anyone in your vicinity as “Brainrot,” then you are among the many Americans who encountered the horrific incident that took place on the night of January 18, 2025.
TikTok, a globally recognized platform for its short-form videos and unique algorithm, was momentarily shut down on January 18th throughout the United States. Fortunately, the application has been restored to its full capabilities for American users since January 19th after being unusable for approximately 12 hours.
The restoration was due to an executive order made by President Donald Trump on his inaugural day, aiming to “make a deal to protect our national security." This order was a complete reversal from his earlier stance of supporting a TikTok ban, influenced by the support he garnered from the platform during his presidential campaign.
Legally, the president is permitted to delay the ban for a maximum of 90 days, provided that TikTok is making significant progress in addressing the national security concerns according BBC.
TikTok, more specifically, its parent company ByteDance--a Chinese internet technology company founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming and Rubo Liang--has been under scrutiny since its launch in the U.S. after its merger with the well-known platform, Musical.ly in 2017.
Concerns regarding the national security of the U.S. started to grow in 2019 among politicians who were worried that TikTok was gathering data from American users. The Associated Press News reported that Senators Tom Cotton and Chuck Schumer pointed out, “while TikTok says it stores U.S. user data in the U.S., the company must still adhere to Chinese law on supplying information to the government.”
Furthermore, there are apprehensions about ByteDance's connections to the Communist Party. In a letter dated back to 2019, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio called upon the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to examine the national security ramifications associated with ByteDance’s decision to merge TikTok with Musical.ly.
In a letter to Secretary Mnuchin, Rubio emphasizes, “Given the Chinese Government and Communist Party efforts to block content and undermine U.S. values, I urge that the CFIUS launch a full and thorough national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musically.”
The temporary TikTok suspension caused significant anxiety among numerous users, who feared they might never regain access to their cherished platform.
This resulted in users migrating to another Chinese-owned platform, known as RedNote. RedNote is a widely popular social media platform in China, founded in 2013, alternatively known as “Xiaohongshu,” meaning “Little Red Book.” The app’s name is a reference to the founding father of Communist China, Chairman Mao Zedong according to CBS.
There are additional factors, aside from the platform's name, that raise concerns regarding the safety of RedNote. Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at Nord VPN, stated that “RedNote was never meant for outside of the China market. All of the data sharing and all the servers to which the data is being shared is in China.”
During the ban, millions of users have already sought refuge in RedNote, and if the app is permanently banned, those same users are likely to continue their use of the platform.
Through a poll conducted at Carson High School, 60% of students reported that they had migrated to RedNote before the temporary ban on January 18th.
The response from American users indicates that the ban is counterproductive, as they have transitioned to another platform owned by a Chinese company. Furthermore, this new platform raises additional and valid concerns, particularly regarding its potential ties to the Communist Party and evident data collection from its users.
CHS Media Magnet Coordinator, Mrs. Harris, expressed her views regarding the TikTok ban, asserting that “It absolutely makes no sense that you would take away this freedom of expression because people are gonna go to another site, like RedNote, which is still Chinese.”
Furthermore, TikTok is a platform that many teens and young adults have turned to for entertainment, access to news, an outlet for creativity, and a source of inspiration.
Zayda Cabatingan, a senior at CHS, has been an avid user of popular social media applications since Dubsmash, a well-known video-sharing platform that debuted in 2014. She conveys her disappointment with the ban, noting that TikTok has served as a space for people to reconnect and provide mutual support.
“They come to TikTok and make music, cooking videos, dances and everyone just reconnects there,” Cabatingan remarked.
Cabatingan also adds that TikTok keeps her aware of global issues, such as the state of Palestine. More recently, during the California wildfires, TikTok was a helpful resource to garner support for the victims of the fire.
The restriction placed on American users regarding the use of TikTok will result in numerous individuals losing an essential means of connection that fosters mutual support during difficult periods.
Moreover, the recent delay in implementing the TikTok ban raises significant concern about the motives of the decision, particularly regarding national security. It raises the question of why President Trump would prioritize the platform's ongoing engagement over the safety of the nation simply because its users exhibited support during his campaign. This decision appears to be highly questionable and may constitute an abuse of authority.
Ultimately, the decision to impose a ban on TikTok appears to lack thorough consideration. It seems that lawmakers have not fully contemplated the potential consequences and implications of this action, nor have they clarified their underlying motivations. Consequently, this ban is likely to drive users to alternative platforms that also raise national security issues, while also depriving individuals of a significant medium for global connectivity.
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