
From creating funny videos to trendy dances, the social media platform TikTok is utilized by 170 million American users. However, on Sunday, when users opened the app they were greeted with a message that the platform was facing a federal ban in the United States, which restricted American user access to the app.
“I was very shocked because I genuinely didn’t believe it would happen,” senior Stella Stockstill said.
Despite receiving these messages, TikTok returned services to users later that day following the announcement that President Donald Trump was going to make an inaugural executive order the next day to give TikTok a 75-day extension for a deal to be made. Additionally, the Trump administration invited TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s to the inauguration.
Some who have kept up on the TikTok ban saga since 2020, like history teacher Nathan Geiken, view Trump’s decision as a political gain for his supporters.
“Now President Trump is a populist,’ Geiken said. “Simply put a populist runs on things that are popular. I think inviting TikTok’s CEO to his inauguration keeps a lot of options open for him. The invitation keeps hope alive for the 170 million American TikTok users by showing that he hasn’t given up on the issue and is actively working with TikTok to get some sort of resolution.”
On Jan. 17, the Supreme Court heard the final challenge from TikTok which followed the company’s initial Dec. 6, loss in the United States Court of Appeals to oppose the ban. Despite motions against the ban by TikTok and Americans, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of U.S. lawmakers on the TikTok Inc. v Garland case. Which gave TikTok the choice of being sold to an American company or face a federal, nationwide ban. The ban was unanimous amongst the Legislative and Judicial branches in the current divided political climate.
However, the back and forth in the case has led to conflicting thoughts about the intentions of TikTok as a company and of Congress.
“What really makes me think something nefarious is up with TikTok is the fact that the law that made the ban was done in a massively bipartisan way,” Geiken said. “Those members of Congress must have seen something that had them actually stop fighting and agree on something.”
Despite the bipartisan decision, some American users have felt that the ban would be a violation of the First Amendment and would infringe on users’ ability to express themselves.
Stockstill is just one example of a student who feels this way.
“It’s our right to use a platform to speak our minds,” Stockstill said. “If we give consent to use a Chinese app, I don’t understand what the problem is.”
The concern originated in 2020, when the Trump administration tried to ban TikTok with an executive order forcing TikTok to sell the app to the U.S. company, Microsoft due to TikTok’s ownership by Chinese technology company, Bytedance.
Then, in May 2023, U.S. lawmakers held a Senate hearing with Chew, which largely investigated whether TikTok gave U.S. user information to the Chinese government.
On Sunday, in a statement made on her US Senator webpage, Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins, explained why she was for the ban, saying, “TikTok is enjoyed by millions of Americans. The problem is not the platform but rather its control by the Chinese Communist Party.”
While Collins has made her position clear, there are others who are still on the fence about the situation.
“I find it rich that other American social media giants like Google and Meta have made statements of concern over TikTok and its implications on National Security when they both regularly sell user data to foreign companies,” Geiken said.
While the future of TikTok is in question, according to Forbes, a global business media company, some U.S. companies and businessmen such as Perplexity AI, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk and Youtuber Mr. Beast have made offers to purchase the company. Despite these offers, a deal has not yet been reached, causing Americans to remain in TikTok limbo, not knowing if a deal will be made in time and if the beloved app will meet its demise or not.
“Life will suck, and life will be boring [if TikTok goes away],” Stockstill said.
For now, the ball is in TikTok’s court, and the users of the app have at least until April 5 to enjoy it.