Social media app TikTok faces a US ban unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells it by 19 January.
Who wants to ban TikTok and why?
In April 2024, Congress took a hard stance against TikTok, issuing ByteDance an ultimatum: sell to a US-approved buyer within nine months or face a ban.
The divisive move stemmed from national security concerns. With ByteDance allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the US government raised fears over the company’s potential access to American user data, suspecting it could be misused for spying or political manipulation.
Justice Department lawyer Elizabeth B. Prelogar made their position clear, telling the court that Beijing “could weaponise TikTok at any time to harm the United States”.
On the other side, critics have condemned the bill as unconstitutional and a blow to free speech. They argue that a ban could stifle the creativity and livelihoods of TikTok’s 170 million users – and let’s not forget the job losses of some 17,000 employees.
It’s a battle of binaries – security versus threat, control versus freedom – but, like most issues, the reality is far from black and white.
About the author
Natalie Clement | Digital Marketing Executive
With international experience as a digital marketer, writer, and editor, Natalie has worked across sectors including lifestyle, technology and tourism.
An advocate for innovation in digital marketing, Natalie has a proven track record of driving audience engagement and delivering measurable results.
How would a TikTok ban work?
The app would disappear from the US Apple App Store and Google Play Store, making it impossible for new US downloads.
Meanwhile, existing users would lose access to updates or bug fixes. Over time, the app would become outdated and increasingly vulnerable.
Could TikTok be saved?
What would a TikTok ban mean for users, creators, and brands?
A US TikTok ban would bring job losses, alternative platform growth, and the slow decline of a digital era.
- Behind the scenes, 17,000 US employees would lose their jobs. On screens, creators who depend on the platform for income would need to quickly adapt to new platforms.
- In fact, many content creators are already asking their audiences to follow them on other platforms like Instagram or YouTube, which would likely grow as creators and audiences shift attention elsewhere.
- The social impact could be significant. TikTok has become a cultural catalyst, driving viral trends and chart-topping hits in a way that other platforms may struggle to replicate.
- TikTok has also influenced how we search for information, rivalling traditional tools like Google’s search engine. A ban could halt this evolution, forcing users to revert to older methods of information discovery.
For now, the fate of TikTok in the US remains uncertain, leaving us bracing for what might come next.
