TikTok Ban Strikes Debate
On January 18, at 8:30 p.m., TikTok users phones “went dark” and the popular social media app vanished from the App Store when the initial TikTok ban began; however, 15 hours later TikTok was back up and running, according to CNN News.
After learning that TikTok was up and running again, Americans flocked back and were greeted by a pop up message on their screens thanking Current United State’s President Donald Trump for ‘saving’ Tikok.
“Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok” is what the pop up message said according to NBC News.
However, any people who deleted TikTok before or during the ban remain unable to access the app, and by extension their older accounts, as it is no longer available for download on the App Store.
In recent years, TikTok, formerly known as Musically, has faced many threats of getting permanently banned in the U.S by Congress.
Considering how NBC News said “During his campaign, Trump… advocated for a ban,” Trump’s motives for delaying the ban date definitely remain unclear.
Even Trump appears indecisive, as on his first day in office of his second presidential term, Trump said “I may not or may do the deal. TikTok is worthless, worthless, if I don’t approve it.”
Regardless of Trump’s motives or new found ‘Savior’ status, the ban has been officially extended for another 260 days, where Bytedance, the Chinese company that currently owns TikTok, has to either sell TikTok to an American owned company or implicate the ban once again.
Notably, the new ban dates requirements match Former President Joe Biden’s own bill that was passed in April, of 2024, which was supposed to force TikTok to shut down within the year, according to NPR News.
Before the app’s initial ban date had passed and when people still thought the ban would occur, TikTok creators like Khaby Lame, Charlie Damelio, Mr. Beast, and Bella Porch recreated old trends and posted them on their accounts.
Not only influencers, but many TikTok users posted drafts, revisited old trends, and urged their followers to download Rednote, the widely recognized replacement for TikTok and a popular social media platform in China.
Very similar to TikTok and “Known as Xiaohongshu, which translates to little red book, RedNote features a layout similar to Pinterest and is often described as a Chinese version of Instagram” and “According to TechCrunch, the app’s focus on short-term content, similar to TikTok, has helped it emerge as a viable alternative,” said USA Today.
Famous influencers began to create accounts on the new platform and would refer to themselves as “TikTok refugees.”
However, United States Senator Ed Markley, on January 13, made remarks on the U.S. Senate Floor and said, “Make no mistake, these communities can not be replicated on another app.”
In the days leading up to the ban, TikTok influencers posted videos of themselves, expressing concern for the loss of the unique cultures, economic livelihood, and vibrant communities that would cease to exist.
