TikTok will be banned in the United States in April amid security concerns

The possible total ban of TikTok in the United States gives the social media platform limited time to justify its popularity. Speculation about purported U.S.-fueled acquisitions, time extensions for the app, or outright shutdowns has been brewing ever since Donald Trump threatened to ‘save TikTok.’

The Congress in Biden’s administration passed legislation saying that unless the China-based parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, sells its interests, it may not operate in the U.S.A. Trump had granted TikTok an extension of 75 days to work out these appending provisions, and thus the final decision was postponed to April 5.

Time is not on the side of the application running out. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the original ruling; thus, TikTok will either have to divest its U.S. operations or it will be banned throughout the country.

April 5?

Unless this March 5 date is an extension option, the ban can take place by April 5 if ByteDance fails to sell TikTok’s U.S. divisions. However, this deadline might not stay final, with Trump suggesting an extension might be possible. 

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Trump suggested that ongoing discussions were underway with four separate parties concerning the future of TikTok. He, however, did not delve into specifics with respect to any possible agreements.

Challenges and Controversies

In spite of its power, several legal problems and regulatory challenges have developed around the TikTok platform, especially surrounding data privacy. This includes the rising discomfort of their U.S. counterparts about the access that ByteDance might have to American user data, and whether in their opinion this presents a risk to national security.

Economic Impact

By the year 2025, TikTok will have had 1.5 billion users globally, of which 325 million are monthly active users in the U.S.A. The platform has been a major financial lifeline for its businesses, with TikTok contributing upwards of $15 billion to the economy of the U.S.A., especially in support of small businesses and digital creators.