The Elon University William S. Long professor and professor of education offered his perspective on educators' relationship to TikTok.
Jeff Carpenter, William S. Long professor and professor of education, spoke with Education Week about how educators view the social media app TikTok, following President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order delaying the federal law banning the app, unless it’s sold from its China-controlled owner,
Carpenter, whose research interests include the use of social media in education, said educators’ use of TikTok “has been relatively less social, compared to some of the other platforms where networks, communities, and relationships are a bit more important.”
Initially, a Jan. 17 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that the law could remain in place. The app briefly went offline Jan. 19 but came back on hours later, citing Trump’s promise to sign the executive order. The Jan. 20 order, signed hours after Trump was sworn into office, will delay the law for at least 75 days.
Read more of Carpenter’s insights, including an impact the ban could have on educators, in Education Week.