Supreme Court TikTok

Sarah Baus, left, of Charleston, S.C., and Tiffany Cianci, who says she is a “long-form educational content creator,†livestream to TikTok outside the Supreme Court this month in Washington. The court later upheld a ban on the social media app, but the ban has been put on hold by the Trump administration.

With 170 million users nationwide, TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps in the country — and recently made headlines when it was taken offline in the U.S. due to a ban, only to return hours later. The app’s ability to popularize new trends, spread information and help users gain influence have made it a major part of many people’s lives.

In recent years, a lot of what is seen on TikTok has influenced a generation of teens, children and young adults, and not always for the better. Destructive videos have become trends, and the app can impact mental health.

Teachers and administrators at high schools and middle schools surely are wrestling with the consequences of TikTok’s influence. At St. Michael’s High School, the students and staff are not strangers to these issues.

TikTok Ban

A message reading "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now" is displayed on a cellphone screen on Saturday. Hours later, the app was back up, thanks to President Donald Trump.



Liyah Cifuentes is a senior at St. Michael’s High School. Contact her at liyahcifuentes@gmail.com.