January was challenging for U.S. TikTok users as the nation braced for the official removal of the short-form video app. While numerous users shared funny memes to make light of the upcoming ban, others expressed concerns for the future of social media and freedom of speech. Content creators and influencers, many of whom are members of the TikTok Creator Fund, shared anxieties over losing their primary source of income. On January 19, TikTok users awoke to a message detailing that a U.S. law banning TikTok had come into effect, forcing TikTok, lifestyle community app Lemon8, and video editor CapCut to go dark. Although the platform’s suspension only lasted about 12 hours after Donald Trump signed a temporary executive order to halt the ban, app users are bracing themselves again, considering that TikTok is yet to be owned by a U.S. company.
How did TikTok get banned the first time?
TikTok has been on the U.S. government’s radar after being regarded as a national security threat by the Trump administration in 2020. In August of that year, Trump signed an executive order instructing the social platform’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, to divest ownership to a U.S. company or face prohibition. After Joe Biden took office in 2021, he reversed Trump’s executive order to ban TikTok but signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) into law on April 24, 2024. The law allows the government to ban foreign-owned apps if deemed a security threat to the U.S. Although TikTok Inc. and ByteDance protested that the legislation violated the First Amendment, the Supreme Court ultimately determined that PAFACA operated justly under the Constitution. Thus, TikTok had to be sold to a U.S. company within a 270-day timespan.
Why was TikTok only banned for 12 hours?
Trump backtracked on his opposition to the app, stating he softened his views after “he got to use it [TikTok],” when questioned on his change of heart by a reporter in the Oval Office. In an interview with another reporter, Trump answered, “I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok that I didn’t have originally,” before revealing that his young supporters aided in his decision. Trump then urged that a 50 percent deal be made, suggesting that the U.S. own half of the social media platform. After signing an executive order to delay the ban for 75 more days, he prolonged the ban again for another 75 days on Friday, April 4.
Has a U.S.-owned company offered to buy TikTok?
Software publisher AppLovin, Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian, YouTuber Mr. Beast, a social media startup led by OnlyFans Founder Tim Stokely, and Amazon have placed bids to purchase TikTok, among others. Presently, a deal has not yet been made.