The Clock’s Tik-ing: Vistamar Students Share Their Opinions on the Upcoming TikTok Ban

As TikTok, the app we all know and love, faces the threat of being banned in the United States over privacy concerns, students all over Vistamar are left wondering what are they going to do with so much free time. Sure it’s about our security (or so they say) but losing those mindless scrolling sessions feels like a much bigger issue. The reason for this ban does not have anything to do with mental health. Tiktok has raised concerns of collecting excessive data on users, which has lawmakers worried that the users’ data could be accessed by the Chinese government. Some optimists claim it will boost productivity, and maybe heal our dead dopamine receptors, but let’s be honest: we are just going to move over to Instagram reels. Still, the potential loss has sparked strong feelings, and I took upon myself to ask a few Vistamar students for their opinions on the matter.

Winnie Terlecki mentions how she is “devastated,” and she wonders where she will “post all her thoughts”.  She also mentions how she is “thinking about switching to youtube shorts”. Winnie even joked about parting ways with her “Chinese spy,” who, thanks to all her data, had been curating her #ForYouPage perfectly. “Honestly, I don’t even mind, they already have my information, what more can they do,” she added with a shrug.

Michael Hamilton on the other hand is more optimistic, saying “It’s about time”. Michael claims he will be “going to McDonalds to find employment.” Though let’s be real, we’re not holding our breaths on that one. He also looks on the brighter side of things as for Michael, he is “very glad” that his “digital footprint will be wiped”. 

Whether it’s mourning Tik Tok or plotting the next social media move, one thing is clear: if the ban sticks, we all will have to face the terrifying reality of undergoing new free time. Who knows, maybe it’s finally time to sit down and actually read those summer reading assignments; or at least pretend we did.