America's Ban on TikTok

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social media platform where users can create, share, and discover short videos that are typically 15 seconds to three minutes long. It is known for its engaging and creative content, often accompanied by music, filters, and special effects and is also very popular amongst businesses, influencers, and brands to market their products on the platform.

How TikTok Became a Target

TikTok is owned by the Chinese company, ByteDance. Due to its connections with China, the U.S. government has deemed the platform a potential security threat and national security risk. In response, Congress passed legislation to ban TikTok. President Biden enacted the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," also referred to as the "TikTok Bill" and the "Sale-or-Ban Act," on April 23, 2024, granting TikTok's owners 270 days to sell the app. The app has yet to be sold.

The Ban: What Happened on January 18?

Talks of buying TikTok emerged but never entirely went through. However, on January 18, the app went dark and was banned in the U.S. Every time a user opened it, a message would pop up a message stating "Sorry, TikTok Isn't available right now."

The notifications TikTok users received also included the following statement:

"A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!" This message was displayed all around the U.S., and the ban was official.

Why did President Trump extend the date?

Trump said on his social media page that he would send an executive order to delay the ban by 90 days when he eventually became inaugurated as president. The following day, TikTok was unbanned. When a user opened the app, the message was: "Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!" Nonetheless, users who deleted the app weren't able to download it again.

Supporters vs. Critics: The TikTok Ban Debate

Concerns over TikTok's affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sparked tension with U.S. Regulators, and government officials had reasons to suspect that the CCP could access user data through Bytedance. Additionally, there are concerns that ByteDance can manipulate what users see to influence public opinion on China and even sway American elections.

Critics believe banning TikTok would ultimately go against free speech rights protected under the First Amendment. Many content creators/users rely on the platform to express their beliefs and opinions. By banning Tik Tok, these particular individuals' ability to share their perspectives in the world will be more limited. Moreover, the ban could have severe economic consequences, particularly for businesses that use TikTok as a key marketing tool. Many organizations rely on the platform's reach to advertise products, especially targeting younger audiences. Without TikTok, businesses may struggle to find a new, effective way to engage youth involvement in their market.