Teens and young adults of this era are known for mindless scrolling, texting, and liking on the internet. North Atlanta students are no exception. One popular social media platform, TikTok, is a constant form of distraction for students, forcing teachers to fight for their students’ concentration. But with a TikTok ban looming, students are facing what a reality with no TikTok would look like. Overwhelmingly, students and teachers say it wouldn’t look much different at all. Users would simply switch to another app. Is TikTok the problem or is it the perpetual access we have to our phones?
Tik Tok is often cast in a negative light. Critics highlight its addictive characteristics and the unquantifiable effects it’s had on teens attention spans, social cues, and physiological health. Instant connection and entertainment has never been closer to our fingertips. This being good or bad is up for debate. Jad Halaby, a freshman, said, “I’m on TikTok quite often, so if it was taken away my life would be quite boring. But then again I could just switch to Instagram or any other platform.”
A Tik Tok ban would not result in students losing their connection to social media entirely. Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and RedNote – the app frequently speculated to take Tik Tok’s place in the event of a ban – would likely fill the void. “I spent most of my screen time on Tik Tok. Probably too much time.” said Junior Anika Kumar. “But realistically if it went away completely I’d probably just move to RedNote or Instagram.”
It would be ignorant to say a deep loyalty to TikTok reflects every single student’s feelings. A large chunk of students understand the negative side of TikTok, and as a result find the emerging ban compelling. Sophomore Luke Curcio said, “I’m excited to see a world with people looking up from their phones and talking more.”
North Atlanta teachers echo the same words as their students. They worry getting rid of TikTok would not solve the problem, but merely introduce another app as the main culprit of students’ time, energy, and attention. This raises the question: is TikTok the problem, or is it the shiny rectangular object we hold by our side everyday?
Although the ban may be extended another 270 days, the reality that TikTok may not be available to North Atlanta students has led them to similar conclusions. TikTok is not the only option. Our phones offer endless connection and entertainment to the wider world, making it nearly impossible not to be distracted by them. North Atlanta wonders why students don’t pay attention when the answer is quite simple. Phones steal our attention from the most important aspects of school, and the effects will be prevalent for years to come.
