DeKALB – Fearful China is gathering sensitive data, and threatening American security, through the popular social media app, some congressional officials are advocating for a TikTok ban.
However, last month’s infamous (and rather senseless) quizzing of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has left many questioning the credibility of such a ban. While not all NIU students use TikTok enough to be concerned, others remain avid defenders of the social media platform.
Caitlin Hensley, a junior Statistics major, sitting in the basement of the Founders Memorial Library. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Do you use TikTok? Answer : “I don’t use it.”
Do you think it would be reasonable for the United States to ban TikTok?
Answer : “If they feel the need to do it, if they’ve done the research behind it, sure. I mean, I don’t really care because I don’t use it.”
Foluwayemi Adeboye, a sophomore Health Science major, sitting in the founders memorial library. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Do you use TikTok? Answer : “Yes…I just scroll on it. Just scrolling. I don’t post, I just scroll on TikTok.”
Do you think it would be reasonable for the United States to ban TikTok?
Answer : “No, no because I, at this point I just can’t do without TikTok because I just keep scrolling when I’m bored… yeah, if I can’t sleep I just scroll on TikTok. Or like my friend, we watch TikToks together through, like, share like our screen or through FaceTime… I don’t think they should ban TikTok.”
Is there another app you would move to, if TikTok was banned?
Answer : “Yeah, without TikTok I’d just go to Instagram.”
Risikat Sule, a sophomore nursing major, sitting in the founders memorial library. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Do you use TikTok? Answer : “Definitely… I actually watch, like, funny videos and, you know, just fun stuff… I make things, but I don’t post… for myself.
Do you think it would be reasonable for the United States to ban TikTok?
Answer : “Nope… I feel like TikTok is my most social media that I’m always on. So, yeah.”
Is there another app you would move to, if TikTok was banned?
Answer : “Ah, I guess Instagram because we got reels.”
Marin McLaughlin, a freshmen marketing major, at Einstein Bros. Bagels in the founders memorial library. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Do you use TikTok? Answer : “Mhmm… just like, I post my own stuff, and I watch funny stuff.”
Do you think it would be reasonable for the United States to ban TikTok?
Answer : “I would say no, just because it’s like, it’s like a social media. Like, I know there’s gonna be bad and good on every single social media, but that doesn’t mean we have to ban something that people have fun on. Like, we’re not gonna ban Instagram if somebody posts one bad picture.”
Is there another app you would move to, if TikTok was banned?
Answer : “If they made an app that was kind of like it, probably. I mean, I just use Snapchat and Instagram and stuff like that. But TikTok uses a lot of my phone storage, so.”
Mariam Smith, a sophomore nursing major, throwing peace signs at Einstein Bros. Bagels in the founders memorial library. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Do you use TikTok? Answer : “Yup…just, it’s a night when I’m just about to go to sleep. I just scroll and scroll and scroll for hours.”
Do you think it would be reasonable for the United States to ban TikTok?
Answer : “Absolutely not. It’d make me really upset. I mean, I use it for fun! It’s just nice to watch other people, like, be creative. It lets you know that you can be creative like them too.”
Is there another app you would move to, if TikTok was banned?
Answer : “No, I’d probably just quit using social media.”
Zoe Hougas, a freshmen nursing major, at Einstein Bros. Bagels in the founders memorial library. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Do you use TikTok? Answer : “Yes… usually when I’m winding down at night. I usually watch it before I go to bed.”
Do you think it would be reasonable for the United States to ban TikTok?
Answer : “No…because I love it. Well, okay, so I think it’s good in moderation. If anything, they should just maybe limit the screen time for it. I think banning it’s a little extreme.”
Is there another app you would move to, if TikTok was banned?
Answer : “No, I really don’t. I don’t think there’s anything else to replace it. I know Facebook and… Instagram, they’re trying to be TikTok. TikTok will forever just be TikTok.”
