The Future of TikTok at Riverdale Country School
TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms among Riverdale Country School students and faculty. However, U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns that the Chinese government could manipulate content and gain access to sensitive user data through the app by TikTok’s owner ByteDance. As a result, Congress passed a law to ban the platform. On January 19th, 2025, TikTok was taken off app stores and unavailable for numerous hours. One day later, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to extend the ban on TikTok for 75 days, allowing Trump and his officials to discuss the threats to national security and give TikTok time to find a potential buyer. Multiple American businessmen and investors are taking steps toward purchasing the platform.
At the time of this article’s release, TikTok is currently available to use but is not available in the App Store for new downloads. The possible permanent ban in the near future and the brief ban already placed on the app raises an important question: if TikTok was truly banned, how would that impact the Riverdale community?
First of all, there may also be a shift in how students interact with and share content online if TikTok were banned. Some might turn to other platforms, such as Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Snapchat Spotlight, or RedNote. These alternatives often have different algorithms and moderation policies, which can impact the types of content students consume and create. Junior Orly Elghanayan believes the transition won’t be seamless. “I definitely think I’ll use Instagram after [TikTok] gets banned, but it will take some getting used to,” she said.
It’s not just students who would be affected by a potential TikTok ban;faculty members have also found value and entertainment on the platform. Dr. Abbe Karmen, a faculty member at Riverdale, shared how TikTok had influenced her personal habits. “Once TikTok went dark, I was on Instagram for a while, but it’s not the same, so I read more,” she said. Her increased reading raises questions about productivity and happiness. While TikTok is often criticized for being a time-consuming distraction, Dr. Karmen acknowledged its entertainment value. “I have used TikTok for amusement and sometimes inspiration—more for amusement, as there are some very funny videos. Never for news or current events,” she noted.
This tension between distraction and joy resonates with many Riverdale students. Elghanayan admitted, “I think I’ll be more productive, but TikTok makes me genuinely happy, so maybe I’ll feel a decrease in joy.” Similarly, Rodriguez expressed concerns about losing access to the app. “I don’t want TikTok to be banned because I have so many saved videos, drafts, and sounds,” he said mournfully. However, Jack recognized the room for improvement, adding, “I have a lot of memories on that app, but in the end, it will be good for my focus.”
TikTok’s extensive data collection, including personal information, behavior, and geolocation, raises fears that the Chinese government could compel ByteDance to share this data for intelligence purposes under Chinese law. There are also concerns about potential algorithm manipulation to promote pro-China narratives or disinformation, influencing public opinion, especially among younger users. While other social media platforms collect similar data, the key concern with TikTok is its foreign ownership and potential compliance with the Chinese Communist Party. Despite this, Riverdale community members seemed to show little concern for personal and national security. Rodriguez pointed out, “Sure, I feel like my data is at risk on TikTok, but my data is at risk with every app. All apps take our data—it’s just that a Chinese company owns TikTok, and the U.S. feels threatened by that.” Dr. Karmen echoed his view, stating, “I did not feel that my data was at risk on TikTok any more than it can be on other public-use sites.” In an era where digital information is a powerful tool, it’s crucial for users to educate themselves on how their data is collected, stored, and potentially used–by any platform, foreign or domestic.
In the end, while many expressed frustration over the idea of losing a beloved platform, others acknowledged the opportunity for greater focus and productivity—the potential ban—though it never came to fruition—highlights possible changes in the Riverdale community and would affect how students interact, receive news about current events, and manage their time.
