Banned or Not? What's Next for Tiktok
TikTok has been under scrutiny for years due to concerns over privacy, data security, and its ties to the Chinese government. Here’s a recap of where things stand with TikTok.

How We Got Here
TikTok, a social media giant with 170 million users in the U.S., has long faced allegations of data misuse. Critics, including government officials, argue that the Chinese government might have access to user data because the app’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China.
Last year, the Biden administration passed a law banning TikTok in the United States unless ByteDance divested its stake in the app by January 19th, 2025.
ByteDance insisted they wouldn’t sell and vowed to fight the new law in court.
Friday, January 17, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban, ruling 9-0 that the federal government can legally shut down the popular video app.
Saturday, January 18, 2025
TikTok went dark in the U.S. Saturday night, just hours before the ban was set to take effect. When users tried to use the app, they were greeted with a message: “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
The message also gave hope that it might be back soon by stating: “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office,”
Sunday, January 19, 2025
TikTok was restored on Sunday following assurances from President-elect Donald Trump that he would work with the Chinese-owned platform to prevent a permanent ban in the U.S., providing a lifeline to its American users just over 12 hours after the app went dark.
Upon reopening the app, a pop-up message stated: "Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!"
Monday, January 20, 2025
On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order extending the ban on TikTok for 75 days. Trump wants the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture.
What’s Next?
The TikTok saga is far from over. The next few months will be critical for determining its fate in the U.S.
- The biggest hurdle will still be China's government’s agreement to any potential sale. ByteDance is hopeful that the Trump administration can facilitate a deal that wouldn’t require a sale and allow TikTok to operate as a stand-alone business, as it has already.
- Even if the U.S. can acquire a 50% stake in TikTok, it’s unclear how Trump would address some national security concerns that led lawmakers to push for the divestment.
- Competitors like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are eager to capitalize on TikTok's displaced user base. Instagram, for instance, has introduced features like “Edits,” a video-editing app inspired by TikTok’s CapCut, and expanded its video grid format to support longer videos—a clear attempt to capture the short-form video market.
Stay tuned for more updates.