Since 2020 when TikTok gained much traction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the app has had a controversial connotation.
When Donald Trump discovered he won the recent election, he initiated ideas of an outlaw of the social media app in America. In an executive order in fall of 2020, Trump released information of his disapproval of the social-networking app. He claimed that the app stole American data through its Chinese owners, and the government in China yearned to store as much American information as possible.
Fast forward to 2024, Trump flipped his position to TikTok. Trump worked to cancel the order he primarily initiated, and the Biden Administration at the time stood by him in that position. A federal judge eventually cancelled the 2020 order.
Throughout Joe Biden’s final year as president, he realized that TikTok might be destructive after all. Biden signed a law to finally and formally block TikTok from American users on Jan. 19, 2025. However, the app would be continued in the country if an American company or business purchased it.
The Chinese business that owns TikTok, ByteDance, has tried to block this order. The social media company asked the Supreme Court to primarily pause the law and give them a bit more time.
“TikTok itself is a fantastic platform. We’re going to find a way to preserve it but protect people’s data,” Trump said, according to Fox News.
Trump believes that the TikTok ban could set dangerous precedents for the country. If TikTok is banned, it is a form of government censorship, which could link to a violation of First Amendment rights of free speech and free press. Furthermore, if TikTok no longer exists it is likely that influencers and businesses will lose money and the economy will see those effects.
Senator Ed Markey announced his idea to put the ban on pause to consider other factors. The Massachusetts Democrat announced the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act on Jan. 13. Markey wanted to wait another 270 days before the end of TikTok. The senator acknowledged the problems of TikTok, but also said the ban could completely disrupt the lives of the 170 million Americans on the platform economically and socially.
Americans doom scrolled their way through TikTok for what they thought would be the final night on Jan. 18. TikTok shut off at 10:30 p.m. EST.
For anyone who tried to log onto the app, they were greeted with the following, “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 now.”
Officials affiliated with TikTok announced the hope that President Trump would resolve the issue.
After about 14 long hours, TikTok came back. The app released information that Trump helped to turn the app back on, and signed an executive order to delay the ban for 75 days. The extension will allow President Trump and his administration time to come to a conclusion about the best way to “Make America Great Again” with TikTok or without TikTok.
The ban of TikTok is still up in the air. Americans will find out the final result once the 75 days is up.
