In the past weeks, the viral video application, TikTok, which gained its popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, has suffered worrisome threats of ban from the US media space.
The Chinese social media company, in a recent statement, said it would be forced to “go dark” in the United States of America on Sunday, January 19, a few days to the presidential inauguration ceremony.
This development implies that TikTokers in the US may experience some glitches in accessing the platform.
Earlier on Friday, the ByteDance subsidiary explained that its decision to “go dark” was informed by the unclarified stance by the White House and Department of Justice on its absolute restrictions from their space.
TikTok noted that the White House “failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability.”
On Friday, January 17, a Supreme Court ruling upheld the outright banning of the video app in the US, except the parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform by Sunday.
According to TikTok, however, it would rather “go dark” than sell its US version to a neutral party in a ruling passed in April 2024.
The micro-video sharing app said it would not bow to the pressure of selling its US version to the any neutral buyer, despite the Republican and Democratic lawmakers votes to ban the app, following an alleged spy on the US by China through the TikTok app.
Aside dismissing the allegation, the management claimed that the court ruling violated its freedom of speech protections for its 170 million users in the US.
What we know:
The ban, if effected, would imply that users would be restricted from accessing the platform, and the application will cease to function and, overtime, removed from App stores and web hosting platforms.
Also, if a buyer surfaces before the appointed time of ban, the App can continue to function in the US.
This development will, in the long run, have an effect on its US users as Content creators on TikTok have begun to post videos bidding their followers farewell ahead of the ban.
In a report by the BBC, a creator, Nicole Bloomgarden said that disappearance from TikTok would lead to a significant salary cut, while another creator, Erika Thompson said that the educational content would be the “biggest loss” on the platform.
Alternative App to TikTok:
Since the impending ban of the application, some US citizens, have been announcing an alternative platform where their video contents will be shared. Some of the creators are panning towards the Chinese video app, RedNote.
Survey by this correspondent revealed that RedNote, until the looming ban of the TikTok app, was not popular among US creators, but, this seems to be a win for the application should TikTok be eventually banned when Donald Trump assumes office.
Will Trump okay TikTok ban?
There seems to be a glimpse of hope for the app, given Trump’s unstable stance on its ban. Trump had earlier supported the ban, but, has, in recent times, indicated that he’s against the ban.
In a statement, the incoming president released on Friday, he said: “My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation.”
The new development comes on the heels of Trump’s meeting with China’s President, Xi Jinping, to discuss the fate of TikTok.
Trump, after the meeting, had stated that he had a “warm spot” for the app, as it helped him with young voters during the 2024 US election.
Backstory on TikTok Ban
After the trade war between the US and China, the White House government suspects that the app may be an avenue for the collection of users’ data. The claim was first championed by cybersecurity firms suggesting that the app may be used to collect data beyond what they see on TikTok.
This means that the US is sceptical about China’s integrity on the cyber space due to the system of government it practices.
The US Attorney General, Merrick Garland shared the sentiment, describing the country as an authoritarian regime.
According to the Merrick, China should not have “unfettered access” to Americans’ data in a bid to prevent China from weaponising TikTok to undermine America’s national security.
A group of security analysts and American apologists have justified the fear, citing the tendencies of a new law enacted by the Chinese government in 2017 that compels its nationals living in the diaspora to co-operate with its intelligence apparatus.
Economic Impact of TikTok Ban
TikTok’s has about 7000 US employees on its payroll, and this implies that the ban will lead to job losses.
Beyond company employees and its associated workforce, millions of content creators and TikTokers in America should prepare for the looming catastrophe that will impact their activities —directly or indirectly should the ban be effected.
