Is TikTok here to stay? What to know about the TikTok ban in the US

by Angelo-Cris Ortega

Jeff Chiu/AP Photo

On January 18, Chinese company ByteDance prevented access to TikTok in the US after the Supreme Court denied an attempt to overturn the law banning their platform last Friday.

Only 14 hours after the suspension, TikTok reinstated their services after they reported “efforts” with President Trump, were successful enough to continue operations in the US.

Why is TikTok facing a ban?

As tensions rise between the US and China, growing concerns from ByteDance led US Officials to believe that Americans’ collected data could help the Chinese government manipulate and influence users. This resulted in former President Biden signing a bill in April 2024, forcing TikTok into a nationwide ban if they do not sell to American buyers by January 19.

For months, TikTok attempted to overturn these orders by arguing that banning the platform directly violates the First Amendment. At least one-third of American adults use TikTok for news, entertainment, and content creation. However, US Officials remained indifferent to TikTok, claiming national security holds more weight over free speech for American users.

On Friday, the Biden administration officially announced that TikTok’s future would be in Trump’s hands. “Actions to implement this law will simply fall to the next administration,” former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated regarding any action with the TikTok ban under the Biden Administration.

How did Trump help reinstate TikTok?

At noon this past Sunday, US users were welcomed back after being able to access TikTok once again. “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!” displayed on users’ screens upon accessing TikTok after the lifted ban.

Angelo Ortega / Heat’d

During Donald Trump’s victory rally in Washington D.C. on Sunday, he made bold statements about protecting the platform. “We have no choice. We have to save it,” Trump said, highlighting the platform’s draws in creating jobs and upholding free speech.

On Inauguration Day, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to continue TikTok operations in the US for 75 days. Within this period, the order outlines that any previous decision upholding the TikTok ban will not be enforced.

From previously attempting to silence the platform in 2020, he’s acknowledged the platform helped secure his 2024 victory. “I went on TikTok, and I won young people up by 36%,” Trump said in his press interview while signing executive orders.

Is TikTok saved?

President Trump aims to settle a joint venture with ByteDance to keep TikTok running in the US. Trump argued that the US “should be entitled to get half of TikTok,” but the lines remain unclear in what the platform could do in the US and how much can the US police.

TikTok is accessible for Americans, but only if the app was never deleted. App stores are blocked from distributing ByteDance apps, as part of the law enforced on Sunday. The ban extension only grants users to access TikTok again without updates, posing future challenges on performance and security.

Since the law passed, ByteDance struck down any talks of selling the company. With Trump’s executive order to prevent the ban, TikTok may be here today, but its long-term future remains unclear in hosting Americans.