By: Emma Helmick 

TikTok has been the number one app in the AppStore for many years, but coming Jan. 19, that may change. 

A TikTok ban is poised to take effect in the United States later this month. There is speculation that the app will remain on phones but eventually become unusable. Most teenagers around America are outraged. 

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“I think the ban is pretty stupid,” junior Alex Swatchick said. “People are worried that China is getting our data, but from what I have seen, I doubt that China is getting anything important.” 

There are multiple reasons why TikTok is being banned; the main reason is that it could be a security risk. With TikTok shop taking off this past year, many are worried about personal information being leaked or stolen. 

“As someone who doesn’t frequently watch the news, it seems to be my only way to keep up with current events that are happening in the world,” senior Sabrina Kasic said. 

While many teens do get their information from the app, some of it can be questionable and it is often hard to separate right from wrong. 

Some adults are happy about the change, as social media can be harmful to young people. 

“The TikTok ban is positive because it will give students one less distraction,” Child Development teacher Dr. Tiffany Smietana-Lysell said. “I know that TikTok is used a lot during their free time, actually all the time.” 

While TikTok does have many negative qualities, it also has some positive ones. 

“The TikTok banning will impact our generation greatly because it has become a space that most of the world has and [we] can see people of all different backgrounds,” Kasic said. “When people don’t have this, they might not feel as connected.” 

TikTok has also given a lot of small businesses a chance to branch out to the world and make them more successful. 

“So many people use TikTok for not only entertainment, but also marketing and sales,” Swatchick said. “Many people would lose out on sales or even lose their business in total.” 

The ban might have some negative effects on people economically, but it could have some positive effects on the way students handle their free time better by decreasing the time they spend swiping. 

“I do not see it having a major impact on this generation or future generations,” Dr. Smietana-Lysell said. “There will always be new apps developed and new trends to follow, so the absence of TikTok will eventually just be a minor event in the past.”