TikTok is a staple of many Staples High School students’ lives. During the recent debate over its possible shutdown in the US, “06880” interns Avni Krishna and Camille Blundell set out to explore the app, and its hold on Westport teenagers. They write:
With over 1.582 billion users worldwide, TikTok stood to lose a whopping 170 million from its American audience when the Supreme Court upheld a ban on the beloved app.
Of that 170 million, 63% are ages 13-17. This large following meant the ban would be severely felt in communities of teens, both on TikTok and in real life.
Not only was it used as a creative and entertainment outlet for many, but it was also a place where community and like-minded individuals could find one another.
There was an initial shock, as teens opened their app and found it unscrollable. But the grief was rescinded in less than 12 hours.
What did they do during the half-day period of dopamine withdrawals? For many teens, the ban meant going onto other popular apps that had implemented a TikTok-like feature of short-form content in a scrollable algorithm.
Yet whether it was YouTube shorts, Rednote, Instagram reels, or even picking up a book, teens yearned for their familiar app.
When the app returned, many saw noticeable differences with their “For You” pages. First, users were greeted with a message stating, “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”
This raised alarm bells, as a government and president’s involvement in an app regarding free speech can get complicated.
Users pointed out that political content was being censored, and artists and editors found it harder to meet the app’s harsh creation guidelines.
For many young people, this created a sense of dread. On one hand, the app that has been a staple in many Gen-Zers’ lives was back. On the other hand, the worries of creative and political censorship caused many to feel conflicted about their app use.
To learn more about youth’s perspective on the ban, we talked to 2 Staples students, senior Mia Bomback (who had a TikTok video go viral of her acceptance to Dartmouth) and sophomore Charlotte Brookebanks.
Click below to hear their thoughts:
The ’13 to 17 year olds” got a dose of what we adults have been dealing with during the past four years on other social media such as FaceBook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and other social media platformr. Be thankful that you weren’t outright banned from your “platform of choice” as we were at the behest of the then current administration. So, to all of you “13 to 17 year olds”; welcome to adulting kiddo… And, oh, yeah, ya gubbmint hates you if you don’t agree with them.
Thank you )6880 interns for opening the door to young people’s use of TikTok a crack.
I thought that some of the attempt to shut down TikTok stemmed from concern about how the Chinese government managed company would use information gathered by TikTok about—well—you. Do Staples students think or worry about that?
If you continue this investigation, I’d be interested to get a run down on how young people feel and mediate some of the unhealthy ways—such as bullying, emotional problems stemming from ridicule and dueting, poor self image, use of drugs and alcohol, and criminal activities— which we read and hear about.
Ergo Werner, Delete all social media accounts immediately because it’s unnecessary, unhealthy and harmful.
Artificial intelligence is better than none at all.
Glad TikTok is back in Westport’s good graces.
I have no social media and never had any social media! Nada, zilch, nothing… you should delete ALL social media IMMEDIATELY!!!!! You don’t need it. You’re wasting your time using it!!