News Photo by Steve Schulwitz From left to right, Fallon Schulte, Caitlynn Shadbolt, and Kameryn Rouse film a TikTok video while working at the Sanctuary Cinema in Alpena on Monday. The cinema uses the video-sharing platform to promote itself and let customers know what movies are playing.

ALPENA — More than 170 million Americans use the TikTok app to post and watch videos, but there is a chance, in the coming months, access to the social media platform will be cut off by the United States government.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 352-65 in favor of disconnecting TikTok from users in the United States, if the parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell the platform.

Congressman Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, representing northern Michigan, voted in favor of the possible ban.

A large number of Republicans and Democrats voted in favor of the proposed bill that says if ByteDance doesn’t sell TikTok in six months, use of the platform in the United States would be blocked and access to the app would not be available on app stores.

Elected officials say the Chinese government could force ByteDance to surrender personal data about users and it is a security threat.

After the vote in Congress, TikTok sent U.S. users a push notification warning that “Congress is planning a total ban of TikTok” that would strip American users of their Constitutional right to free expression.

The alert also included a way for users to find their representative and call their office. Some House members say the phones in their offices have been ringing off the hook.

Bergman said TikTok and the Chinese government’s ability and willingness to influence legislation shows how powerful the platform is and why it is a potential threat.

“There is a reason the Chinese Communist Party acted so negatively to the House working to ensure a company controlled by the CCP is not running TikTok,” Bergman said. “We must be aware of the threat posed to our National Security by countries like Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The future of the fight is cyber warfare. The CCP is actively engaging in these activities, and through TikTok they have the clear ability to push divisive propaganda by manipulating their algorithm while gathering data on millions of Americans.”

In Alpena, it is not uncommon to see people making short videos to post. Even businesses use TikTok as a way to promote themselves, their staff, and their products.

Fallon Schulte works at the Sanctuary Cinema, which has a TikTok account that the staff uses to promote what movies are showing and the fun that staff have at their job. She said she understands the government’s concerns and the threat the Chinese government could present, but she said TikTok is also used by many people who use the videos to learn more about hobbies and other interests.

“I get both sides of the debate,” Schulte said. “TikTok can be really good if used right because it can be very educational and helpful if used right. I would be disappointed if I couldn’t use it, but I also think it wouldn’t be bad to ban it if there is a threat. I also think it is becoming a problem with people being on it all the time.”

The bill is now moving to the U.S. Senate where it will go through the committee process before it is determined if a vote takes place in that chamber.

President Joe Biden said if passed by the House and Senate, he will sign the bill. He also said he will continue to campaign on the video platform until it is banned.

Former President Donald Trump is not in support of a ban, which is a course change from 2022 when he said he was in favor of it.