With TikTok being banned on the Jan. 19, many users have had mixed feelings on if the ban was good or bad for the future of the app and their own entertainment.  

Once users were hit with the notification saying TikTok was banned, some rushed over to other sites to state their opinions on the ban or to just continue on with their scrolling, which was suddenly interrupted. Many others decided to use this as a chance to stop using the app for good, no matter how long it was banned.

“I was like ‘oh no’ when [the ban first happened], then I deleted the app,” freshman Giulia Smith said. 

In the days leading up to the ban, many students feared what would happen after Jan. 18 when a notification appeared stating that “a law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.” The app was also removed from the app store on all Apple devices. This message was followed by a second one explaining how President Trump indicated that he would work with TikTok on a solution to reinstate the app. Many users quickly switched to other apps such as Instagram, RedNote or Lemon8.

“I’ll use Instagram reels,” junior Lizzy Kautzmann said. “I don’t think people are going to stop using [social media] all together because of the ban.” 

Instagram is another popular social media app that is similar to TikTok, with a feature called “reels”, which features an endless page of short videos. A few students explained how they would be switching over to these Instagram(reels) or already use reels instead of TikTok. 

“I’ll just use Instagram more,” senior Margot Legros said when asked what she would do without TikTok.  

Some users are willing to switch to other apps but are not up to posting on them, specifically with the the switch to Instagram some users explained that they won’t be posting there the same amount as they do on Tiktok. Yet, they are aware of the other apps and possibilities. 

“I will not be participating in [posting reels],” Legros said. “We already RedNote, so yeah I definitely think it’s the beginning of that[ TikTok replacements]’ 

When TikTok got banned there was a wave of panic over the app, since it was banned just hours earlier than expected. Many influencers posted their final “goodbyes” to their followers and fans. One of these was famous TikToker Charli D’Amelio, who posted many of her old drafts from when she first went viral as her final goodbye. However many other smaller users also posted their farewells to the app they have grown to enjoy. 

“TikTok is my life,” freshman Ava Ferarrio said.

Yet, on Jan. 19 at around 8 a.m. when users clicked on the app out of habit, they were hit with yet another notification, only this time it was not about the ban. This notification said welcome back and that the app has returned to the U.S.

“One thing bad about [the ban] is [not] having fun with your friends and making videos with them,” Smith said. 

Even though the app came back this time, it is still possible for there to be another ban. However it is still undetermined if this is the case, or if it would be back for longer this time. Still, many users are unaware  of what could happen if a ban like this takes place again. Even though there is no clear answer, some users have a few thoughts on what they predict will happen. 

“Possibly [it will be banned] but I feel like it won’t,” junior Mia Villa said. 

Although we still don’t have a clear answer on what the future of TikTok will look like, users have learned not to take the app for granted anymore. Users have expressed hope for the future and many users are set up with their backup plans. Some users have also said that without it they may be able to be more productive.

“I would be able to do a lot of stuff without getting distracted like cleaning my room or doing homework,” Villa said.