U.S. TikTok Ban: Updates So Far

Earlier in 2025, the Supreme Court upheld federal legislation banning TikTok. As a result, TikTok went dark in the U.S. mere hours before the ban would go into effect on January 19, 2025.

However, in a not-so-surprising twist, TikTok was back online hours later when it was announced that newly sworn-in President Donald Trump was working on a plan to keep the ban from becoming permanent.

The president ordered the federal government not to enforce the ban for 75 days, which effectively gives ByteDance more time to sell its U.S. stake in TikTok. Alternatively, the China-based TikTok owner must strike a deal with Trump.

The Extension Does Not Mean the Ban Is Overturned

Trump used law principles to give the executive order to postpone the ban. But this does not mean he has overturned it. This merely gives the president more time to mull his options.

He has already suggested that TikTok should become a joint venture in which the U.S. and ByteDance each have a 50% stake. There has been no elaboration on this suggestion, so it is up in the air for now.

The entire ban is up in the air at the time of this writing. The Supreme Court upheld the law to ban the app because it wanted to prevent China from getting U.S. TikTok users’ personal data.

What will happen when the 75-day extension expires is unknown at this point. There is a possibility that Trump will make the law redundant, but this seems unlikely.

Who Could Buy TikTok?

TikTok is not for sale, and ByteDance has always declined offers to buy the exceptionally popular app. However, some experts believe this may change because the U.S. has a new president.

Further to the joint venture idea, Trump has suggested that Elon Musk could buy TikTok, as could Larry Ellison. A handful of other names have purportedly tossed their hats into the ring as potential buyers.

Why Is There a Banning Law in the First Place?

The main reason for a potential permanent ban is because of security concerns. It is alleged that the Chinese Communist Party has laws that require companies in China, including ByteDance, to spy in other countries.

TikTok releases a biannual report that discloses legal requests for user data. The latest report showed that more than 13,000 requests were made by law enforcement in the first half of 2024 alone.

However, there are other reasons U.S. lawmakers want to see TikTok disappear from the country. They believe that TikTok is addictive, especially for young users. This is an ongoing concern despite the TikTok feature that tells users to log off after being on the app for an hour.

It is also true that children are misusing the app despite TikTok’s efforts to protect them. In the U.S., children under 13 are not allowed to use the DM feature. Their videos also cannot go viral. This has not calmed U.S. fears.

TikTok content is also a concern. There are a lot of videos promoting negative information and content. This includes videos and stories about eating disorders, drinking, and suicide.

The app has a moderation policy aims to remove content that could disturb mental health. Still, this type of content remains one of the main reasons the ban might go into effect.

Why the President’s Ban Delay Sparked Mixed Reactions

As with most things that President Trump does, his latest TikTok move to delay the ban by 75 days did not go well with everyone. Those who support the ban criticized this decision, saying that TikTok remains a major privacy threat in the country.

However, those who oppose the ban, including influencers and content creators, welcomed the extension. They also hope the delay will lead to a long-term solution instead of a permanent ban.

Republican lawmakers seem to be as divided as the rest of the country. Some are questioning the president’s shift in stance on TikTok because he previously supported stricter regulations on Chinese tech companies.

Legal and Social Ramifications

The potential permanent ban of TikTok continues to stir debates nationwide and even on a global scale. The Supreme Court’s ultimate decision has led to heated discussions on freedom of speech and the necessity to regulate online platforms.

Critics argue that a TikTok ban will set a dangerous precedent for future restrictions on social media. They also believe that having the power to ban an app like TikTok will allow the government to ban other social media platforms at will.

Moreover, millions of businesses and influencers rely on TikTok for income. Most of them continue to express their frustration at potentially losing their livelihoods. There are 170 million users in the U.S. alone, with many using the app for marketing and brand promotion.

With TikTok’s future incredibly uncertain in the country, U.S. business owners, influencers, and brands are already scrambling to find alternatives. However, they will likely have to start from scratch in building up a global audience, including U.S. followers.

Questions That Remain Unanswered

As of January 20, the enforcement of the TikTok ban has been delayed for 75 days, as mentioned. Until this period expires, several questions will likely remain unanswered. There is also no guarantee of answers even after the 75 days.

These questions include:

• Will ByteDance divest TikTok’s U.S. operations before the new deadline?
• If TikTok is sold, who will the buyer be, and how will the sale affect users?
• Will there be legal challenges to attempt to reverse the Supreme Court’s ruling?
• Will new legislation be introduced to address digital concerns more effectively?

The TikTok Battle Is a Landmark Case

The U.S. is not taking the potential permanent ban of TikTok lightly. However, lawmakers and the government are also not overlooking what they believe to be real concerns about data privacy and national security.

In the meantime, millions of Americans wait anxiously to see whether TikTok will survive in the U.S.

Undoubtedly, there will be more political moves, legal disputes, and negotiations. So, the fate of TikTok in America is far from decided. As new developments inevitably unfold before the 75-day deadline, this issue will continue to shape new debates on digital sovereignty and free speech.

Who will ultimately win these debates remains to be seen.