Biden signs TikTok Bill that could ban the app: What this means for students
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
On Wednesday, April 24th, President Biden signed a law that would ban TikTok, one of students’ favorite apps, in the U.S. unless TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, sells the app in the next 270 days, with a possible 3-month extension if a sale is in progress. Given that the trending platform could be leaving our app stores and becoming a topic of discussion among students, educators can huddle with students on how to protect their privacy online and offline.
Since its growth of 180% among users aged 15-25 during the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok now has 1.5 billion monthly users as of 2024. We know that TikTok is a big part of students’ daily lives – with 1 in 5 students saying that they use TikTok almost constantly. But recently, like many other social media platforms, the video-sharing app has been scrutinized for its addictive nature and other data privacy concerns, such as accessing sensitive user data – leading to the potential TikTok ban.
Let’s take a closer look at these privacy concerns and what educators can do to empower students to stay safe online, whether or not the app is banned.
Why is TikTok potentially being banned?
The main reason behind a potential TikTok ban? Data privacy concerns that include using facial recognition technology on users without their consent and sharing user data with third parties, which can compromise privacy, security, and trust, reduce control over personal information, and potentially lead to misuse or legal issues. For students on TikTok, knowing that the platform is sharing their personal data with third parties may be a stressor because they don’t understand how their information is being used. However, since social media provides students with benefits like forming connections and exploring new hobbies, it doesn’t mean they should rush to delete TikTok from their phone – but they should be mindful of privacy policies on the app.
U.S. lawmakers are also concerned that TikTok’s algorithm may be biased and influence public opinion. With 43% of TikTok users saying they regularly get their news from the app, there is concern from the U.S. government that the algorithm can be manipulated to influence American public opinion; between TikTok’s ties with China, primarily due to its ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance, and concerns with protecting user privacy and safety, the U.S. government believes the app could be a threat to national security– and 59% of Americans agree. For many of these concerns, however, there is no public evidence being released to back it up.
We huddled up with some of our Student Ambassadors to get their thoughts on a potential TikTok Ban. Here is what they shared:
“A TikTok ban, I believe, would take away a generational form of free speech. Teenagers like myself use TikTok to spread our ideas, opinions, and our overall fun side. Not to mention, TikTok is a major hub for many small businesses.” – Hunter, Grade 12
“The TikTok ban, as frustrating as it may be, could be a blessing in disguise for many teenagers in the U.S. Teens spend hours on TikTok every day, the time they could be spending learning a skill or building a relationship. Although TikTok has many positives, there is no reason for teens to spend so much time on it, myself included. I believe a TikTok ban will have students on their screens less and have real, meaningful, human interactions more. – Peter, Grade 9
“I personally don’t use TikTok; I use Instagram reels. But I used to use TikTok, and it was the app I used most for a WHILE. Like I was spending so much time on it I had to delete it. I think the potential ban is crazy honestly. So many people use TikTok daily for entertainment, and even think about all the influencers that rely on TikTok as a stream of income? It’s crazy to think that could be taken away.” – Vivian, Grade 11
Students use TikTok daily as a source of inspiration, connection, and a way to stay up-to-date with the world around them, and educators can huddle with them to discuss how a potential ban could impact them and get their thoughts and opinions. The concerns regarding online safety and personal information remind educators to empower students to protect their privacy on social media and huddle with them about any concerns they may have about the TikTok ban. This will reduce their stress when it comes to protecting their personal information and equip them with the tools to navigate social media platforms responsibly.
TSI’s Take
Whether TikTok is banned or not, students will continue to use other social media apps to chat with friends, find news, and entertain themselves – with Pew Research Center reporting that 60% of students use Snapchat and 59% use Instagram. 68% of social media apps track user data for advertising and marketing purposes. When it comes to social media and tech, knowledge is power, and we can empower and equip our students with the tools to make informed decisions when it comes to what they share online, as many of students’ favorite social media platforms actively collect user data.
As of 2022, 60% of students feel they have little to no control over how social media companies collect and use their personal data. By discussing the importance of data privacy and equipping students with tools to protect their privacy, educators can empower students to feel more in control of their experience on social media.
Here are some strategies that can empower students to protect their privacy:
- Sharpen their privacy settings: Encourage students to explore their privacy options in the settings of each app they use. Have them check things like location permissions, ad preferences, access to contacts, and more.
- Learn how their information is used: Many social media apps collect user data. As a class activity, have students pick one social media platform, research how they use the data they collect from their users and report back to the class. You can often find this information under each platform’s privacy policy.
- Be mindful of what they share: Remind students to think twice before posting personal information or photos online. Encourage them to consider who might see their posts and how that information could be used by others, including advertisers or potential employers. With the TikTok ban, this is especially important as the platform may use facial recognition on others without their consent.
By empowering students to protect their privacy when navigating technology, they gain a sense of control over their personal information and when their favorite platforms, such as TikTok, are in the news. To further empower students to protect their privacy, check out our #WinAtSocial lesson, Examining how free apps and websites use our personal data.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
Do you believe banning TikTok is a good solution to address data privacy concerns, or do you think there are better ways to protect your privacy while still using your favorite social media apps?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.