The current situation
“The future of TikTok is very much up in the air,” says Sree Sreenivasan, CEO of Digimentors. TikTok, the Chinese social media platform owned by ByteDance, faces a potential ban on January 19, unless it is sold to a U.S. investor or the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes. Allegations have suggested that Elon Musk, owner of X, could be a potential buyer.
The push to ban TikTok began during President Trump’s first term and was formalized by President Biden in June 2024. Trump’s views on TikTok have evolved, partly due to his belief that TikTok helped him win the elections. TikTok CEO Shou Chew reportedly plans to attend Trump’s inauguration on January 20, just one day after the court ruling. “We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but it will have a big impact,” comments Sreenivasan.
TikTok’s popularity in the U.S.
TikTok is highly popular in the U.S., with 170 million users. “People use TikTok daily for entertainment, but there are also many creators, influencers, and small businesses,” Sreenivasan says. However, usage has seen a decline in recent weeks, dropping to 82.2 million daily active users, Reuters reports the data from Similarweb. As the ban looms, many users, dubbed “TikTok Refugees,” are migrating to other Chinese social media platforms, including Rednote and Lemon8.
Precedents for TikTok’s ban
The United States would not be the first country to ban TikTok. India set the precedent in 2020. “It was a decision by the Indian government on security grounds, they banned 63 apps in 2020”, comments Sreenivasan.
Trump considered banning TikTok during his first term, also citing national security issues. He insisted that TikTok’s U.S. operations be managed by a non-Chinese company, or the platform would be shut down.
The bipartisan act
The TikTok ban was formally enacted through a bipartisan act passed by Congress in June 2024. Biden’s administration has expressed concerns that China could use TikTok for espionage and political manipulation.
If no resolution is reached before January 19, app stores like Apple and Google will remove TikTok, halting new sign-ups. Existing users will still be able to use the app, but without updates, it may degrade over time and lose its functionality.
Legal issues with China
The Chinese government has argued that the ban is unconstitutional, claiming it violates the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech. However, in a public session last week, the Supreme Court justices appeared to view the matter as an issue of national security rather than free speech.
TikTok has denied any intention to sell its U.S. operations. In response to allegations that Elon Musk might take control of the platform, a TikTok spokesperson stated to the BBC, “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
Trump’s changing position on TikTok
Trump’s views on TikTok have changed over time. He has expressed a desire to prevent the app from being banned, though he has not provided a clear plan. In December, he met with CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago headquarters. During his first press conference after the election on December 16, he said, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won by 34 points, and there are those who say TikTok had something to do with it.”
As his inauguration approaches on January 20, there is uncertainty surrounding how Trump will address the situation. Shou Chew is reportedly set to attend, sparking further speculation about the future of TikTok in the U.S.