The popular social media platform TikTok was banned in the U.S. as a result of a law mandating that its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, sell the app to a non-Chinese owner. The ban was set to go into effect on Sunday, but uncertainty arose when the Biden administration announced it would leave the law’s enforcement to the Trump administration. Lawmakers have raised concerns about TikTok being a national security threat due to its Chinese ownership. However, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has maintained that the app is safe and secure.
President-elect Donald Trump indicated he may grant a 90-day extension for ByteDance to sell TikTok before implementing the ban. Trump’s position on TikTok has shifted over time, with him initially wanting to ban the app but later expressing support for it. Some members of his administration are divided over the issue, with some advocating for removing Chinese influence from the app and others supporting its availability on the basis of free speech.
TikTok users expressed frustration and sadness over the potential shutdown of the app by creating compilations of their most viral moments and migrating to other social media platforms. Many also protested against the ban by joining a Chinese app called RedNote, though experts have warned that RedNote poses an even greater security threat than TikTok. The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, with possibilities including a sale to an American owner or the app being banned.
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