On January 19, Belmont Hill students—along with millions of other Americans—were shocked, waking up to see their favorite app shut down. Just before midnight, a new federal law went into effect: if TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance did not sell its stake in TikTok, American phones would remove the app from app stores due to national security concerns..
This brief ban led to a temporary suspension of TikTok’s services nationwide before it was reinstated on cellular devices just 12 hours later. TikTok restored its services after receiving assurances of its survival from President-elect Donald Trump, who was on the doorstep of his second presidency. On his first day in office, January 20, President Trump issued an executive order granting ByteDance a 75-day extension (until April 5) to divest from its U.S. operations. Trump said that the delay would give him time to consult with his advisors and heads of “relevant” departments and agencies to address the national security concerns posed by TikTok. This extension has allowed TikTok to return to app stores and continue operations. Discussions about its future ownership continue to linger in many circles.
Looking forward, the future of TikTok remains uncertain. If the app is banned on April 5, millions of users might once again lose access to their favorite source of entertainment and what some have called an expression of free speech. Over the past few years, TikTok has soared in popularity: With over 1.5 billion downloads worldwide, the app has become a staple for younger generations. The potential ban could have far-reaching implications; content creators may lose their primary platform, forcing them to adapt to alternatives like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. TikTok has also argued that 4 million small businesses—which made nearly $15 billion in 2023 from the platform—depend on the app’s survival for their own success.
President Trump, who supported TikTok’s ban during his first term, but took no action, has now given vague answers as to how his administration will approach the app in the weeks leading up to the date of the ban. On January 26, Trump reported that he was in talks with multiple parties considering buying TikTok and that there would likely be a decision on a sale in the next 30 days. This deadline has since passed. Trump has considered pushing Elon Musk, owner of X and D.O.G.E. head to purchase the app. As April 5 approaches, users and industry experts remain anxious and anticipate major changes in the influential world of social media.
