By Natasha Randeniya
Executive News Editor
TikTok Ban Overview
Since 2020, debate over banning TikTok in the U.S. has raged. On Jan. 18, millions of Americans lost access to the app after a law signed by former President Joe Biden in April took effect. The law required TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app to an American buyer, but failure to comply led to the ban.
Why TikTok Was Banned
U.S. lawmakers argue that TikTok poses a national security risk because of its Chinese ownership. Concerns include the ability of ByteDance to share user data with the Chinese government or manipulate platform content. The Supreme Court upheld the ban, citing these concerns as valid, though no public evidence of this behavior from TikTok has been released.
TikTok Being Banned
TikTok went offline in the U.S. on Saturday, Jan. 18, hours before the law banning it was set to take effect. This followed the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in support of the law, which was passed in April with broad support and signed by President Biden. The law banned U.S. companies from supporting TikTok unless it was sold to a U.S. or non-enemy company.
Trump’s Part in the Ban
Donald Trump first pushed for a TikTok ban in 2020, but his stance has changed. As he prepared to return to office this year, he proposed delaying the ban to find ways to keep TikTok running under U.S. control. On Jan. 20, Trump signed an order providing TikTok with 75 more days to stay online while ByteDance searches for a U.S. buyer. Trump, who has accumulated nearly 15 million followers on TikTok, said he has a “warm spot” for the app and credited it for helping him connect with young voters.
TikTok’s Impact
TikTok provides income for creators and social media managers who use the platform to reach audiences. The ban left some worried about their income since many major content creators use TikTok as their job and don’t have another source of income. TikTok has allowed people to unite and raise awareness about global struggles, allowing individuals to share their stories and receive help they might not have gotten otherwise.
What’s Next for TikTok
Due to President Trump’s executive order delaying enforcement of the ban, the app will remain accessible for users. TikTok began restoring access in the United States the morning of Jan. 19, and most users were able to use TikTok as if it never left. The app welcomed back American users with a notification thanking Trump for his efforts to bring the app back to the U.S.
Alternate Platforms
In TikTok’s absence, people tried to turn to alternative platforms. The Chinese app Xiaohongshu, colloquially known as RedNote, emerged as an alternative. Often described as a blend of Pinterest and Instagram, RedNote’s focus on short-term content makes it a potential replacement.
Student Thoughts
“I never use TikTok to begin with,” said senior Seamus O’Neill. “My friends were freaking out when TikTok got banned, but I could care less.”
“When TikTok first got banned, it was a good opportunity to spend less time scrolling on my phone,” said junior Alexis Lee.
“I deleted the app and now I can’t re-download it, so I am sad,” said senior Stella Traylor.
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