BY SUMMER CRANDALL

Most of what we see online as teens, the memes, the news, the dances, and yes even the chaos of trends we pretend we understand starts on TikTok. I’m not immune. I doomscroll for hours some nights, laughing, cringing, and occasionally learning something new. But now, TikTok’s future in the U.S. is uncertain, and suddenly our digital playground might get a major shake-up.

The push to ban or at least radically restructure TikTok comes from lawmakers concerned about national security and data privacy. Because its parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, the U.S. government argues that sensitive user data could be at risk. So in 2024, Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA). According to the law, TikTok must either cut foreign ties, sell off its U.S. operations, or face a nationwide ban.

That’s right: the app we scroll for everything from homework hacks to trending dances could vanish. Or it might survive. The current plan is for TikTok to spin off its U.S. operations into a new American owned company. Algorithms, data storage, and updates would all move under U.S. control. The goal? Keep TikTok alive, but remove any chance of foreign interference. 

So what could this mean for students? Well, imagine opening your phone one morning and your For You Page looks different. Maybe the trends aren’t the same. Maybe videos take longer to load. Maybe your favorite creators sound a little different or worse.If it survives under U.S. control, it’s not exactly the same app we’ve come to know and love. And in the meantime, kids are still making content, creating communities, and sharing laughs somewhere else online.

Some argue this change is good for teens. Data privacy is important, and reducing foreign influence could theoretically make the app safer. Others point out that teens use TikTok not just for fun, but for expression, connection, and even income. Losing it even partially is more than an inconvenience; it’s losing a social lifeline.

For now, we wait. We scroll. We share. We laugh. And we wonder. Will our favorite scroll have to find a new home? Either way, the app that shaped our memes, dances, and even our understanding of the world isn’t just entertainment, it’s part of how a generation communicates.